You can have a wide range of medical treatments for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. However, it is also important to look after the body, look out for specific triggers, and take a more holistic approach to your health, alongside traditional medicine.

In this article, we’ll explore ways you can help your atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF) by monitoring your body’s health and more natural treatment methods.

Biofeedback therapy

Stress and anxiety can negatively affect the heart and lead to conditions such as AFib. Biofeedback therapy works by monitoring your body function through sensors. This helps you balance your mind and body by detecting signs of stress. Together with techniques such as meditation and deep breathing, this can help control your involuntary responses when you are stressed.

For the heart, you will be connected to an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heart rate and how it changes. Through training the mind and the body, you could gain control over involuntary stress response reactions that may cause your heart rate to rise.

Acupuncture

There have been studies that have shown that acupuncture may be an effective holistic treatment for AFib. One study found that acupuncture had the same antiarrhythmic effects as amiodarone (a common medication for AFib patients to help control irregular heartbeats).

However, despite the positive results seen in some studies, more needs to be done to prove acupuncture is an effective treatment. This is because there aren’t many studies, and they didn’t study many people.

Supplements and vitamins

Supplements and vitamins, as part of a healthy, balanced diet, can benefit your AFib by keeping your heart healthy. Taking vitamin D supplements has been suggested to help the heart’s health due to its positive effects on the body. Vitamin D is vital in controlling blood pressure and inflammation, which can positively affect the heart by reducing inflammation and improving blood vessel function.

Low vitamin D levels have also been connected to hypertension. It’s important to monitor your vitamin levels and speak to a specialist if you suspect you lack vitamin D.

However, some vitamins can interfere with medication, so you must be careful when introducing new tablets into your routine. Vitamin K can interfere with the blood-thinning medication warfarin, making it less effective for treating conditions such as AFib. It’s important to check with a specialist to determine whether multivitamins or vitamin K tablets are safe for you to take.

Checking your diet for high levels of vitamin K is also important. Some foods you should eat in moderation include:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Green tea
• Lettuce
• Olive oil
• Spinach

Some foods you may want to avoid if you have a heart condition due to inflammation include:

• Excessive amounts of sodium
• Food high in trans fats
• Aspartame (an artificial sweetener)
• Alcohol

St John’s wort, a supplement used to help those with low mood, can also interfere with blood pressure medication, such as amlodipine, some statins, and blood thinners like apixaban.

Gluten and AFib

A study conducted in Sweden in 2011 found that coeliac disease may impact AFib by triggering inflammation. You may also be allergic, or intolerant, to gluten and not have coeliac disease. Working with a dietician will help you gradually cut out gluten from your diet to see if this makes a difference to your condition.

There are many gluten-free alternatives for various food items, such as pasta or bread, that can make changing your diet easier. Some grains and starches are naturally gluten-free. These include:

• Rice
• Soy
• Potato
• Quinoa
• Chia
• Beans
• Corn
• Nut flours

Is further treatment necessary?

Depending on your condition and symptoms, we will help you decide whether you need further treatment alongside your lifestyle changes.

Some conditions require immediate surgical intervention, such as catheter ablation or insertion of a cardiac device like a pacemaker. Read our blog to discover four common arrhythmias treated with catheter ablation.

You can also find out more about the ablation procedure in our complete guide here.

Book an appointment

Only a heart specialist can decide whether your AFib needs medical intervention. You must monitor your condition and seek advice if you notice anything abnormal. Book an appointment with our Heart Rhythm Specialist, Dr Syed Ahsan, today to learn how to manage your atrial fibrillation.