Atrial Fibrillation Medical Treatment in NY

At Fratellone Medical Associates, we have seen other causes of atrial fibrillation which are sometimes overlooked in a conventional medical practice. The most common is an unstable blood sugar. The old term for this is hypoglycemia. When an individual consumes a high carbohydrate meal (with a glycemic load), there is an increase in the blood sugar level. If the patient has an unstable blood sugar, the level will decrease within 3 - 4 hours. This decrease in blood sugar is detected by the body. Since the body works in uniform as an orchestra, the adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidneys, release epinephrine (or adrenaline). This increase in adrenaline will increase the heart rate and possibly cause atrial fibrillation. A change in dietary lifestyle can be life saving.

Other causes for Atrial fibrillation are food and environmental allergies, infections and heavy metal intoxication. The effects of mercury go beyond the neuro-toxic effects. Symptoms of mercury toxicity include fatigue, tremors, bad taste in mouth, joint pain, headache, and ringing in the ears. Mercury is an irritant to the cardiac electrical system. In 1999, an article was published in a well known cardiology journal discussing the toxic effects of mercury found in the heart muscle of patients with a dilated heart. The medical term for a dilated heart is a dilated cardiomyopathy.

If mercury is found in patients who have a provocative urine challenge, we use a specific chelator for mercury. The chelator is either oral DMSA or intravenous DMPS. The most common cause of mercury in the body is dental amalgams and ingestion of high amounts of certain fish.

Treatment:

There are many conventional medications to decrease the atrial fibrillation ventricular rate. These include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and Digoxin. Digoxin is derived from the Fox Glove plant. There are also conventional medications to convert the abnormal rhythm, atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm. Sometimes, the patient may need an electrical cardioversion to convert the rhythm.

Some of the herbs utilized in atrial fibrillation are ones that are standard for a naturopathic physician to combat a "feeble heart". The herbs utilized most often are:

1. Hawthorne (Cratageus spp)
2. Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
3. Night blooming cactus (Seleniccereis grandiflorus)
4. Scotch Broom (Cytisus scopariu )
5. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
6. Bugleweed (Lycopus spp)
7. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Herbs should not be used without the guidance of a physician or trained health care professional. Herbs are drugs. There are many known interactions with herbs ands conventional cardiac medications.

Since atrial fibrillation has a high risk for stroke, most physicians advocate warfarin or coumadin to thin the blood. Although there is a role for this conventional medication in cardiology, there sometimes can be alternatives. Although there is no blood test when on these blood thinning herbs and supplements as there is for patients on coumadin, they are used. Some of these supplements include bromelin, nattokinase, essential oils and Vitamin E.