How to Treat Atrial Fibrillation: Can Natural Remedies Help?

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1Dietary Treatments

2Lifestyle Changes

3Alternative and Supplementary Medicine

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Medical Takeaways

Tips and Warnings

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Atrial Fibrillation, or AFib, is a type of irregular heartbeat that usually causes fast beating and fluttering. Although this is treatable, it could be serious and requires medical attention. If you feel heart palpitations, an irregular heartbeat, weakness, dizziness, or shortness of breath, then visit your doctor as soon as possible for an exam. After you’ve seen your doctor, then you can take some natural steps to treat the condition and correct your heartbeat. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medication, so always follow their suggested treatment plan for the best results.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Dietary Treatments

AFib is sometimes the result of a poor diet. High blood pressure and cholesterol can contribute to the condition, so making some dietary changes could be a big help. Following a healthy diet that’s low in fat, salt, and sugar could improve your overall health and treat your AFib. However, dietary improvements might not be enough on their own, so also take any medications that your doctor prescribes.

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   Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to protect your heart. A plant-based diet helps lower your cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure, protecting your heart from AFIb. You don’t have to become a vegetarian, but include some fruits or vegetables in every meal to get enough vitamins and nutrients to improve your heart health.

   • Get at least 4 fruit and 5 vegetable servings each day. This is easy if you include at least 2 servings in each meal and some snacks throughout the day.
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   Get your protein from lean or plant sources. Lean protein sources are low in saturated fat, so they’re better for your heart health. Switch to white meat poultry, eggs, fish, or plant sources to get more heart-healthy proteins.

   • Good sources of plant protein include nuts, seeds, legumes, soy, and beans.
   • Red meat and dark meat poultry are high in saturated fats, so limit your intake of these sources. If you eat poultry, remove the skin for less saturated fat.
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   Include 1-1.6 g of omega-3s each day. Omega-3s are healthy fats that decrease inflammation in your body and support your heart health. In general, everyone should get at least 1-1.6 g per day from your regular diet.

   • Good omega-3 sources include fish (1-1.8 g per oz.), vegetable oils (1.3 g per tbsp), walnuts (2.5 g per oz.), and flax seeds (2.3 g per ounce).
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   Switch to whole-wheat products to avoid enriched flour. Enriched flours can spike your heart rate and trigger AFib symptoms. In contrast, whole-wheat products provide a slower energy release that won’t overwhelm your body. Replace all white breads or cereal with whole-wheat types instead.

   • In general, brown foods are healthier than white varieties. White rice, for example, is enriched, so brown rice is a better choice.
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   Limit your salt intake to 2,300 mg per day. Salt raises your blood pressure and could make AFib worse. Doctors recommend cutting yourself off at 2,300 mg per day for optimal heart health. This should help keep your blood pressure under control.

   • Get into the habit of checking all nutrition labels for the salt content in everything you buy. Also try not to add more salt to your cooking or food.
   • Your doctor may want you on a low-salt diet with less than 2,300 mg. Some diets for people with heart issues are limited to 1,500 mg. Always follow your doctor’s directions.
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   Avoid fatty, processed, or fried foods. All of these foods contain a lot of saturated fats, salt, chemicals, and calories. It’s best to eat as little of these products as possible. Wherever possible, eat fresh meals instead.

   • 2,300 mg of salt is only about 2.5 tbsp, so it's easy to go over the recommended amount. Pay attention to the amount of salt you add.
   • This includes cured or processed meats like cold cuts, which are usually high in salt.
   • If you’re cooking at home, try baking or roasting your food instead. This way, you won’t have to add any extra oil or fat.
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   Cut out as much added sugar as you can. Added sugar has no nutritional value and can raise your weight and blood pressure. It’s best to cut out as much as possible to support your heart. The recommended limit for added sugars is 25-35 g per day, so stay well below those levels.

   • You might think only desserts have sugar, but a lot of packaged foods are packed with sugar. Get into the habit of checking nutritional labels for sugar content. You might be surprised how much added sugars some foods have.
   • Added sugars are different than natural sugars, like the ones in fruit. You don’t have to avoid natural sugars.
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   Follow the Mediterranean diet if you want a concrete plan. Some doctors recommend that their patients with AFib follow the Mediterranean diet. This plan includes a lot of produce, fish, and healthy oils while limiting salt, fat, and processed foods. If you want a concrete plan to follow, then switching to this diet is a great guide.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Lifestyle Changes

Some lifestyle factors could also contribute to AFib. Being overweight or inactive, or using certain substances could contribute to AFib. In addition to changing your diet, making some lifestyle changes could also be beneficial along with medical treatments.

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   Exercise daily to improve your heart health. Regular exercise is good for your heart and could improve your AFib symptoms. Try to get 30 minutes of exercise on 5-7 days per week. This can strengthen your heart and regulate your blood pressure.

   • Aerobic exercises are best for your heart health. Try walking, running, biking, swimming, and other cardio workouts for the best results.
   • If at any point during your exercise you feel like your heart is pounding too hard, or if you feel faint, dizzy, or short of breath, stop and take a rest. You may be pushing yourself too hard.
   • Don’t exercise for hours a day, however. Excessive exercise could put you at a higher risk for AFib.
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   Maintain a healthy bodyweight. Being overweight puts you at a higher risk for AFib and other heart problems. If you’re overweight, talk to your doctor to decide on an ideal weight for yourself. Then design a diet and exercise program to reach and maintain that weight.

   • Sticking with a heart-healthy diet and exercising regularly to help your AFib will also help you lose weight.
   • Avoid extreme or crash dieting. Dropping a lot of weight too quickly isn’t good for your heart, especially if you already have AFib.
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   Reduce stress to lower your blood pressure. High stress can raise your blood pressure and make AFib worse. If you normally feel stressed, then take some steps to relax and reduce the pressure on your heart.

   • Some relaxation activities like deep breathing or meditation can clear your head and help you de-stress. Regular exercise can also lower your stress levels.
   • Doing things you enjoy are great ways to reduce your stress. Try to include a few minutes each day for your hobbies.
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   Limit your caffeine intake. While it’s uncertain if caffeine actually makes AFib worse, it could make your heart racy. In general, drink no more than 400 mg per day, equal to 3-4 cups of coffee, to avoid any problems.

   • If you’re very sensitive to caffeine, you should cut it out entirely.
   • Remember that energy drinks usually contain much more caffeine than a cup of coffee, and sometimes even more caffeine than you should have in a day. Avoid these drinks.
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   Drink alcohol in moderation. Binge drinking, or drinking specifically to get drunk, is a known trigger for AFib. Limit your drinking to an average of 1-2 drinks per day to avoid triggering your symptoms.

   • If you notice your symptoms act up after even 1 or 2 drinks, then you may be especially sensitive to alcohol. It’s best to avoid it entirely in this case.
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   Quit smoking or using illicit drugs. Smoking and drug use are harmful for your overall heart health and could make AFib worse. It’s best to avoid both activities altogether. Quit smoking as soon as possible, or avoid starting in the first place.

   • Secondhand smoke can also cause problems, so don’t let anyone smoke in your home either.
   • All illicit drugs are harmful, but stimulants are especially bad if you have AFib. These include cocaine, amphetamines, crack, and ecstasy.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Alternative and Supplementary Medicine

Some alternative treatments could help with AFib. However, research is lacking and it’s not clear if these remedies are definitive cures for the condition. You can try them if you’d like to, but always talk to your doctor first. When you’re dealing with a heart condition, you need to make sure that no supplements or treatments will cause problems for you.

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   Have acupuncture treatments to reduce stress and pressure. There’s little evidence that acupuncture treatments actually treat AFib, but some people find it beneficial. It could have an indirect benefit by reducing your stress and anxiety, which can regulate your blood pressure and rhythm. Try acupuncture for yourself and see if it works.

   • Visit an experienced and licensed acupuncturist so you know you’re getting a safe treatment.
   • Explain your exact problem to the acupuncturist. They’ll adjust the pressure points they access based on your symptoms.
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   Take fish oil supplements for extra omega-3s. Higher omega-3 doses may help improve your heart health and prevent arrhythmia. Try taking fish oil tablets for an added omega-3 dose and see if it helps.

   • The daily dosage varies based on how concentrated the tablets are, but 1,000 mg is a common dose. Follow the instructions on the bottle.
   • If you’re a vegetarian, there are also algae or plant supplements that provide omega-3s without fish oil.
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   Use CoQ10 to regulate your heartrate. CoQ10 is an enzyme that could reduce inflammation and keep your heart in rhythm. You could try taking this supplement if you haven’t had luck with other treatments.

   • Common CoQ10 doses range from 50-200 mg, so follow your doctor’s instructions.
   • Your doctor may recommend that you take CoQ10 if you’re on medications that could interfere with your heart rate.
   • CoQ10 could interfere with blood thinners, so avoid it if you take this medication.
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   Try a taurine supplement. While it’s unknown why, taurine supplements appear to protect your heart and regulate its beating. Ask your doctor if this supplement is right for you to see if it works.

   • A studied dose is 10-20 g per day, but follow the instructions that your doctor gives you.
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Medical Takeaways

While there are some natural treatments for AFib, this is still a medical condition and you need professional treatment for it. If you show AFib symptoms, then see your doctor as soon as possible for an exam. After that, then you can try some home treatments for your condition. Keep your doctor informed and return for another visit if you notice your symptoms getting worse at any point.

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Warnings

• Always discuss any dietary changes or supplements with your doctor first, especially if you have a heart condition like AFib.
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• Excessive vitamins in your system, especially vitamin D, could trigger AFib, so never take supplements without talking to your doctor first.
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