Be Still My Heart A flutter in the heart may be an exciting feeling when you're a teenager in love, but when you're an adult…not so much. As one HSI member name Lily reveals, a flutter is not the least bit appealing. Lily: "Could you please write something on atrial flutter as distinct from fibrillation? It is so uncomfortable. I take ionic magnesium 8 drops a day and it has reduced the frequency of the flutter. I wonder should I add some potassium to my intake of vitamins? I take a good multi vitamin, Vitamin C with Cats Claw and Essential Omegas in capsule form as I was told Cod Liver Oil did not agree with my slow metabolism and slightly under-active thyroid." Atrial flutter is a signal that something may be wrong with the heart, so we'll need a doctor to answer this one - preferably a "Nutrition Physician" who can also offer tips on supplement support. In other words, someone exactly like HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D. In Dr. Spreen's response, he starts off with a revealing look into the basic nuts and bolts of Lily's condition. Dr. Spreen: "Atrial flutter (also called just 'flutter') is not discussed nearly as much as atrial fibrillation due to the fact that it's much less common (though that's not much consolation to the person who has it!). Besides situations such as atherosclerotic heart disease, heart attacks, rheumatic fever, and other less common causes, it also occurs from no known cause at all ('idiopathic', meaning 'we don't have a clue'). "Flutter occurs in the upper part of the heart (atrial area), and involves hyper-excited electrical activity that can cause the lower part of the heart (ventricular area) to over- respond to the signals being sent down to it from above (the signals flow from top to bottom normally). If the ventricles beat too often from this situation, they don't have a chance to completely fill with blood, and therefore decrease in their total output. "Along with atrial fibrillation, most conventional treatments for flutter are aimed at reducing the response of the ventricles by beating fewer times, so that each beat (systole) pumps more blood with each pulse. Drugs in the digitalis class have been used for years for that, but there are many others. "Occasionally, 'cardioversion' with low-dose electrical charge may be necessary if the patient is seriously compromised." Dr. Spreen notes that when a root cause of atrial flutter is suspected (including the heart problems he listed above, as well as lung disease and emphysema), the key is to treat the probable cause first to see if the flutter can be controlled. As for treatment, he starts off with this suggestion for confirmed cases of atherosclerosis: EDTA chelation - which requires the assistance of a complementary physician. (For more information about chelation, see the web site for The American College for the Advancement of Medicine - acam.org) Dr. Spreen: "From alternative health care side of things, anything that improves the health of the heart may be considered worth a try. Rarely would such efforts interfere with drug therapies, but you should discuss any options with your doc to make absolutely certain. General efforts can include coenzyme Q-10 (usually in doses greater than 100 mg/day), l-carnitine, magnesium, vitamin E, selenium, and taurine." Among those supplements, taurine has made the fewest appearances in the e-Alert. This amino acid (found in high concentrations in the heart muscle - as well as skeletal muscles and white blood cells) - requires an adequate intake of vitamin B6 in order to be most effective in supporting heart health. One last note from Dr. Spreen: "Whatever course is tried, close monitoring by a health care professional is a must." Sources:
"Eye Scan May Help Spot MS Damage" Miranda Hitti, WebMD Medical News, 10/15/07, webmd.com | 
