Anyone know about potassium please?

[Guest guest]

During a visit to A & E a fortnight ago (my heart rate was extremely fast and

totally irregular), I had my sodium and potassium levels checked. I reckon the

sodium was ok (139 with a ref range of 135-145), but I am particularly

interested in the potassium reading. It was 3.8 (ref range 3.5 - 5) and I have

since discovered that low potassium can single-handedly cause atrial

fibrillation, which is the posh name for my condition.

Does my potassium level seem ok, and, if not, can someone please recommend a

potassium supplement? I was on the phone with from Nutri today, but they

don't sell potassium as a standalone product.

I am desperately seeking the cause of my atrial fibrillation. The cardiologist

has put me on the waiting list for cardioversion, and says that the cause of my

AF is totally irrelevant. My argument is that, if we don't know what is causing

it, the cardioversion might work temporarily but my heart will go back into AF

if the underlying cause is not identified and then dealt with...??? Or is that

way too logical for the NHS???

So I'd value your assessment of the potassium reading, and any other info

relating to irregular heartbeat too, if appropriate.

Many thanks, as always,

Nicola

[Guest guest]

You are doing MUCH better than me LOL (joke)my potassium is 3.6 HAHAHAHA but I don't have ANY heart problems :)Magnesium is also 'very' important for our heart I have heard....

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2870633

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/482773

http://www.afibbers.org/atrial_fibrillation.htm

http://www.mgwater.com/arr.shtml

incidentally you don't happen to know what your magnesium level is do you?Mine is 0.87 range is 0.65 to 1.05 (this result was on the 30th of jan 2012 by the way)

I have read that low potassium can give byphasic T waves on an ECG.....

http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ecg-library/basics/hypokalaemia/

>> During a visit to A & E a fortnight ago (my heart rate was extremely fast and totally irregular), I had my sodium and potassium levels checked. I reckon the sodium was ok (139 with a ref range of 135-145), but I am particularly interested in the potassium reading. It was 3.8 (ref range 3.5 - 5) and I have since discovered that low potassium can single-handedly cause atrial fibrillation, which is the posh name for my condition.> Does my potassium level seem ok,

[Guest guest]

Hi.,

Minerals are vital for healthy functioning. Magnesium also has a big part to

play in regulating heart function. You need to do some more reading, I found

that taking a magnesium supplement prevented heavy thumping heart beats into a

slower gentler pace. since this I have changed to using 'low salt' which

contains potassium to reduce the amount of sodium.sadly the printouts that I

have do not have the URL on them so I don;t know from where they came I'd try

Wikipedia to start with.

>

> During a visit to A & E a fortnight ago (my heart rate was extremely fast and

totally irregular), I had my sodium and potassium levels checked. I reckon the

sodium was ok (139 with a ref range of 135-145), but I am particularly

interested in the potassium reading. It was 3.8 (ref range 3.5 - 5) and I have

since discovered that low potassium can single-handedly cause atrial

fibrillation, which is the posh name for my condition.

> Does my potassium level seem ok, and, if not, can someone please recommend a

potassium supplement? I was on the phone with from Nutri today, but they

don't sell potassium as a standalone product.

> I am desperately seeking the cause of my atrial fibrillation. The

cardiologist has put me on the waiting list for cardioversion, and says that the

cause of my AF is totally irrelevant. My argument is that, if we don't know

what is causing it, the cardioversion might work temporarily but my heart will

go back into AF if the underlying cause is not identified and then dealt

with...??? Or is that way too logical for the NHS???

> So I'd value your assessment of the potassium reading, and any other info

relating to irregular heartbeat too, if appropriate.

>

> Many thanks, as always,

> Nicola

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Nicola,

If you do have Atrial Fibrillation I hope you are on the first line emergency medication while you are waiting eg Aspirin 300mg once daily. What I don't understand is why are you having to WAIT for an appointment? This is something that is usually treated ASAP. I have had irregular heartbeat for years and take Verapamil which controls it somewhat. I recently started to get AF attacks, say once a week and as soon as my GP heard that I was put on Aspirin and sent for tests and if the AF is confirmed by a 24hr machine,(they won't get the once a week attack on that will they?) I've been told I will be put on Warfarin (there is a better drug but I'll take that up with him later!) The preventative treatment is to prevent clots being thrown off by the irregular rapid beating. I am up the creek without a paddle at the moment as I can't take the Aspirin as it hurts my tummy so I'm just winging it right now!

I

Anyone know about potassium please?

During a visit to A & E a fortnight ago (my heart rate was extremely fast and totally irregular), I had my sodium and potassium levels checked. I reckon the sodium was ok (139 with a ref range of 135-145), but I am particularly interested in the potassium reading. It was 3.8 (ref range 3.5 - 5) and I have since discovered that low potassium can single-handedly cause atrial fibrillation, which is the posh name for my condition.Does my potassium level seem ok, and, if not, can someone please recommend a potassium supplement? I was on the phone with from Nutri today, but they don't sell potassium as a standalone product.I am desperately seeking the cause of my atrial fibrillation. The cardiologist has put me on the waiting list for cardioversion, and says that the cause of my AF is totally irrelevant. My argument is that, if we don't know what is causing it, the cardioversion might work temporarily but my heart will go back into AF if the underlying cause is not identified and then dealt with...??? Or is that way too logical for the NHS???So I'd value your assessment of the potassium reading, and any other info relating to irregular heartbeat too, if appropriate.Many thanks, as always,Nicola

[Guest guest]

Both sodium and potassium are low, optimal levels are 142/5 for sodium and

4.2-4.4 for potassium, the only potassium supplement recommended on the adrenals

group is slow release potassium, names: Slow-K, Chlor Kon, etc, which usually

requires a prescription here in the UK, you can import from another country

without a prescription but I found this UK website where I get Slow-K tablets

from as they are sold as a vitamin:

http://www.pointpharmacy.com/shop/Slow-K-tablets-600mg-100-tabs.html 600mg is

8Meq, I started off taking 4 tabs a day and it took me a good 3-4mths to get my

levels up, but you need to check blood levels frequently as to high a potassium

level can be just as bad as too low. For the sodium you'll need to supplement

with sea salt. I would definately get your potassium levels up before

considering cardioversion as you say if low potassium is the cause of the AF

then you won't need the cardioversion. As someone who's had cardioversion

(adenosine in a & e)it isn't pleasant. If you post on the adrenals group they'll

probably be able to advise more on starting dosages and things like that. Hope

that's of some help to you.

Sandie

>

> >