Heart Palpitations

[Fraenky]

Hello everyone, I have been on a carnivore diet for 6 months now and have had mostly good experiences and success with it.
 

For the last 2 weeks, however, I have had heart palpitations, especially when my pulse is calm - 50 - 60 bpm. It doesn't matter whether it's early in the day or late. I'm slowly getting scared and will probably go to the doctor in a few days - although my doctor will immediately attribute heart problems to my diet.

 

I have been drinking a lot of water and taking in more electrolytes for the last 2 weeks. No change. I also have to mention that I was on vacation with friends 3 weeks ago and unfortunately drank too much beer. Drinking carbohydrates. Could there be a connection? Has anyone here had experience with heart palpitations? Many thanks in advance.

[Geezy]

I don’t see where there might be a correlation between the palpitations and the beer.
This far into carnivore I also don’t see a correlation with the diet. Quite often when something out of the ordinary starts happening the first thing they look at is the diet and yes, early on I could very well be the diet but at six months in I doubt it. That’s generally the time frame when we start seeing some really good healing.
From what you have described I would look at the electrolytes. I don’t know what your your taking or how much but you could be throwing you system out of balance. Like many of us when I first became a carnivore I stated taking electrolytes because everyone was saying that we needed to because on carnivore we would be flushing them out of our system. Well I’m my case a blood test, after a year on carnivore, showed that my sodium levels were too low, even though I salt my food fairly heavy and it was part of my daily supplement. Then on top of that the blood test showed my potassium levels were too high. High as in dangerously high especially for someone with a heart condition. So I stopped taking my electrolyte supplement and just upped my salt intake. Six weeks later my numbers were back to normal. I’m now a believer that if we are eating a proper carnivore diet then we shouldn’t need to supplement our electrolytes unless we are working on a specific issue.
I took some electrolytes today because I knew I was going to be out in the hot Texas sun most of the day working on fence so I figured I could use the extra juice yo get me through the day and I believe it helped.
And lastly I believe you should go see a doctor and get checked out. Get a blood panel done. An EKG and a general exam. You could be developing heart condition such as atrial fibrillation which is what I’ve got but carnivore has really helped mine.
One final note. I’m usually a big proponent of being honest with our doctors and letting them know that we are carnivores but in your case I wouldn’t tell him or her just yet because I wouldn’t want to prejudice the exam.
Good luck and let us know how things work out.


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[Miranda]

I have had them (before carnivore) and reported them to my Nurse practitioner. She wasn't concerned. From what I have read they are associated with anxiety and also thyroid issues. I feel like mine came about from the mask mandates. Breathing through the mask caused me physical anxiety symptoms. I didn't have any full blown anxiety attacks, like when I was teenager. But I believe that's a mind over matter thing. 

[Fraenky]

Hello everyone and thank you very much for your answers.
 

Regarding the beer question: I meant whether it is possible to be thrown out of ketosis by drinking too much beer and to need a few days to "get used to it" again.
 

Otherwise, I went to the doctor yesterday to have a blood test. I'll get the results on Monday. I also do a 24-hour ECG on Monday. The doctor said it sounds like it's stress-related. My blood pressure is very good and my heart sounds normal. I have to say that I've been very busy at work for the last few months and that's why I sometimes have depressive phases. I hardly had any problems with it during the first few months as a carnivore.

I'm on holiday for three weeks starting the week after next and have to look after myself and my family a lot. At the moment I'm not noticing any more heart palpitations. For about a day now. I'll keep you updated.

I don't think it's because of the carnivorous diet and I would find it a shame if I had to give up this diet. Up until two weeks ago, I was physically better than I have been in years. And I'm not bored with the carnivorous diet either.

[Geezy]

That’s good to hear.


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[Bob]

On 8/7/2024 at 5:24 AM, Fraenky said:

I also have to mention that I was on vacation with friends 3 weeks ago and unfortunately drank too much beer. Drinking carbohydrates. Could there be a connection?

It's possible. Most references will say that they're caused by stress and anxiety, or because you’ve had too much caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol, certain medications or supplements, or abnormal electrolyte levels. For example, low potassium can be a problem, as can high potassium. 

They usually go away on their own. However, if they are present in conjunction with shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, fainting, sweating, nausea, or with neck, jaw, back, or stomach pain, then you should get checked out. Together these could signal a heart attack.

 

[Fraenky]

hey and thank you very much for the answers.
 

my blood values are all good. electrolytes, thyroid, everything is fine. the long-term ECG showed extrasystoles. not many but they are there. I feel them too. luckily not very strong, but I still feel something that I didn't know before. but only when I relax. I don't feel any during the day or when exercising. the stress ECG showed the same thing. under stress my heart beats normally.

as I already wrote, I have had a lot of stress in my work and private life over the last 3 months. I almost had a panic attack 2 months ago. at least I think that's what it feels like. I've never had one before. I said to my wife at the time that something had to change because I probably couldn't take it much longer.
 

I've had the extrasystoles for 3.5 weeks. well, I'm on vacation now and have to look after myself. relaxation, exercise, music, family. nothing more otherwise my carnivore experience is going well. I'm continuing to lose weight, build muscle and feel good and fit. I hope my heart calms down again too.