Why do I have heart palpitations? I am only 47.

Heart palpitations have many causes. The most common causes include stress, fever, anxiety, use of certain medications (thyroid pills, use of anti asthma medications), excess caffeine, mitral valve prolapse, heart disease, an over active thyroid, abnormal electrolyte levels (potassium or magnesium) and disorders in the heart conduction system.

In most young people, palpitations are transient and benign. However when heart palpitations are associated with symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, sweating or fainting spells, then you definitely need to see a doctor.

If you have had only one episode of heart palpitations then you do not need to worry. However, if you have symptoms or if your palpitations are recurrent, you do need to see a doctor. The work up of palpations begins with an ECG. Some people are asked to wear a halter monitor which records the heart rhythm for a number of days. Your doctor may check your blood to look at the levels of potassium and magnesium.

The treatment depends on the cause. In most cases the treatment is drug therapy or some type of laser ablation of the abnormal electrical pathways in the heart.

More on Calcium and the Heart

A recent report on a large randomized study from New Zealand evaluated extra calcium supplement use (at least 500 mg/ day) in more than12,000 patients over the age of 40. The findings were not entirely surprising. The pooled data revealed that excess calcium carries a significant risk for heart attack. More over there was also an increased risk for stroke and sudden death in patients who took calcium supplements.

How calcium causes the increase risk of heart disease is not fully understood but believed to be due to alteration in vessel compliance. This eventually leads to calcium build up in the blood vessel wall. These authors summarized the data were succinctly. For every 1000  people treated with calcium for 5 years, it leads to prevention of 26 fractures, but on the other hand, there were 14 additional heart attacks.

This is the second large study from New Zealand which directly points the finger on calcium.

So where does this live the patents who have osteoporosis and all the calcium fanatics?

Well, there is no increased risk when eating the daily-recommended levels of calcium. It is the excess level of calcium that is of concern. The eternal myth that bigger is better certainly does not hold up for calcium (or for any other foods). For people who want to prevent osteoporosis, eat natural foods and leafy green vegetables that contain calcium. Moreover, drink adequate milk and eat consume dairy products. And do not forget to walk. 

What is so difficult is why the American population is so fanatical about calcium pills. The majority of these health supplement pills and minerals are made in the Orient. There are countless reports about fakes and counterfeit products including dry wall and chalk material found in these pills- so why take a pill instead of fresh fruit?

If you do take calcium supplements, speak to your doctor about it first and do not go overboard. The daily recommend calcium intake for both men and women is about 1000 mg/day. Like everything else in life, too much of calcium may not be good for you- here is to a glass of milk.

Can vitamin D reverse my coronary disease?

First, the simple answer-NO. 

You can eat all the vitamin D you want, it will not do anything for your heart disease. There has been a lot written lately about vitamin D and how it benefits people with coronary artery disease. This is utter nonsense. 

The fact is that there are no clinical studies to document these statements. The people who advocate vitamin D are the ones who sell it. It should also be remembered that vitamin D pills are not a substitute for the conventional heart medications. 

If you want to reduce your risk of heart disease, maintain a healthy weight, eat more veggies than meat, do not smoke, exercise regularly and get a regular check up with your doctor. 

If you listen to the charlatans who recommend vitamin D for plaque reduction, you will end up dead sooner than you think.