What it is and how to deal with it: Atrial Fibrillation

What is Atrial Fibrillation and how do I deal with it

To understand what atrial fibrillation is we first have to understand what is happening with a healthy heart.  Though the heart is a complicated organ with a very serious job to do, we can picture the heart quite simply – picture two sets of paired chambers, one larger pair sits on top of the lower, smaller pair.  The larger chambers are known as atria (or atrium if singular) and the lower chambers are known as ventricles. 

The atrium’s job is to collect the blood as it enters the heart and then to push this blood into the ventricle sitting below it which will in turn, expel the blood from the heart under pressure as it starts its journey around the body again.  This results in the double-beat of the normal, healthy heart as first the atrium contracts and then the ventricle – this is known as the Sinus Rhythm by doctors.  How this is all coordinated is the responsibility of a part of the heart located at the top of the right atrium – this is known as the Sinus Node or he Sinoatrial Node (the SA Node) – this is the heart’s natural pacemaker.  The electrical signal travels across the right to the left atrium and ends at the Atrioventricular Node (the AV Node) and when received, the atrium contracts just before the beat of the ventricles.

Now atrial fibrillation occurs where the electrical signal bypasses the atrium (hence the “atrial” term) – the atrium doesn’t contract properly and instead, it “fibrillates” and to imagine this, think of a jelly on a plate when it is shook.  What causes the electrical signal to bypass the atrium or to deteriorate which also can cause the condition may be damage to the SA Node or some other condition.Regardless of the cause, symptoms can go unnoticed until something serious like a heart attack or stroke occurs.  This is why it is important to have regular cardiac screenings which can identify the condition early.

Those with a history of heart problems, rheumatic fever, diabetes or strokes are all in a higher risk category for contracting atrial fibrillation.  Symptoms that present themselves may include shortness of breath, intolerance to exercise, palpitations and sometimes even angina.  The condition lends itself to treatment with mild instances not requiring any treatment where the patient is not in a high risk group or the symptoms are not creating issues for the patient.  First stage treatment includes medication to control the heart rhythm and the use of catheters though open-heart surgery may be required using an operation known as the Maze Procedure. 

The Maze procedure consists of making incisions in the atrium and sewing them up again; this allows the atrium to hold blood and contract normally but the electrical signal cannot traverse the incisions that have been made – the signal must follow the route which is delineated by the incisions and cannot, therefore, bypass the atrium.Sometimes an artificial pacemaker will need to take the place of the SA Node that is damaged by the disease.  The success rate is high with 80% to 100% success rate being reported.

L-Arginine (Nitric Oxide) supplement cautions

L-Arginine

It is the mark of any responsible supplement distributor to advise potential consumers of the potential side effects that exist with the consumption of their product.  It is wise to thoroughly investigate the potential dangers and side effects of every supplement that you might consider using.  Responsibility and ownership over what you put in your body is always encouraged.  It is also helpful to remember that all supplements, no matter how natural or safe, will cause negative side effects in some people.  There are no substances, even those substances created naturally by the body, which every person can tolerate without consequence.  Many side effect cautions will not apply to you.  Nevertheless the advice to proceed with caution is still sound council. 

L-Arginine is a supplement that very rarely has side effects.  Although adverse reactions with other medications have not been reported, as of a 2005 publication, the possibility exist for some. Such negative interactions include taking L-Arginine along with any type of blood thinner or blood pressure medication including Coumadin (however current research by experts such as Dr. Prendergast show no negative interactions).  Other side effects that patients reported included mild cases of diarrhea, headache and recurrence of cold sores.  As with any supplement or medication, you should be careful when you take L-Arginine if you are currently being treated for cancer or any other disease.  The medications prescribed for these more serious conditions have a higher likelihood of having their effectiveness compromised by the introduction of any other supplement or drug. 

L-Arginine is very safe for those that are in general good health.  It is especially safe for those who take doses of L-Arginine at the recommended 4 to 6 grams per dose level.  The L-Arginine supplement that is currently being provided in the ProArgi-9 Plus products provided through Synergy Worldwide was actually shown to have no adverse effects in clinical trials where dosages where much higher.  Dr. Louis J. Ignarro, Nobel Laureate in Medicine, explains in his book “NO More Heart Disease”, that “If you choose to take my recommended dose of L-Arginine (4-6 gram dose), you can expect no side effects.”  Dr. Ignarro goes on to explain that even though there have been no side effect of L-Arginine reported in medical literature, it is always a good idea to check with your doctor before taking any supplement or drug.

L-Arginine is a supplement that in many cases may work best at a higher dosage level.  This is because the liver and intestines break down a good part of the amino acid before it is absorbed by the vessels in the rest of the body.  The higher dosage levels (sometimes up to 20 grams) will in most cases ensure that the benefits of L-Arginine reach the vessels throughout the entire body.  For those who are considering taking L-Arginine as a supplement that they hope will provide some relief to symptoms of heart disease, the potential for side effects is generally not high enough to justify compromising the potential for relief from their discomfort.  Although producers of L-Arginine do not make the claim that L-Arginien provides a cure of any kind, there are many pieces of research that strongly support the possibility that L-Arginine prevents the onset or rapid progression of a variety of heart related ailments by keeping the blood vessels and arteries clear from obstruction and allowing the heart to work with less resistance.  Heart health is a concern for many Americans as heart disease claims more lives every year than any other disease.  Take the time to consider if L-Arginine can help you to live a more fulfilling lifestyle.  Talk about any concern that you may have about this supplement with your physician.  You may find that you’ve been missing out on this opportunity to improve the health of your heart.

What is L-Arginine? (Nitric Oxide Production)

benefit

L-Arginine is an amino acid that is popularly used as a supplement for people who have symptoms of or are at a higher risk for heart or vessel disease.  As heart disease kills more people than any other disease, heart health has become one of the most pressing concerns on the minds of almost every overweight or otherwise unhealthy American.  The problems that result from heart disease can be vast and no one drug or nutritional supplement is sufficient to care for all of these health concerns in one shot.  However the benefits of L-Arginine are very broad because it affects the entire cardiovascular system. Some specific benefits will be to those hearth patients who have symptoms of chest pain (due to coronary artery blockages), leg cramping (due to the narrowing of the arteries in the legs), shortness of breath, fatigue, difficulty walking and impotence. 

So how is it that a supplement can do so much to help make such a big problem better?  Well, studies have shown that L-Arginine aids in the production of nitric oxide.  Nitric Oxide improves blood flow and thereby rids the individual of most of the symptoms that ultimately lead to heart disease.  When nitric oxide levels are up and blood flow is improved, the individual has a greater tolerance for physical activity and does not become fatigued as easily.  Feeling more energy can lead to the adoption of a healthier lifestyle, further perpetuating the positive chain reaction of health improvements that result from simple lifestyle changes.  Even a man’s personal life can improve as a better blood flow can prevent the most common cause of erectile dysfunction. 

As with any supplement or drug it is important to not only read dosage information carefully but also to receive a personal consultation with your doctor regarding any new supplements that you are considering using as the effects of any given supplement will vary depending on the unique chemical and physical makeup of each individual.  Most people with a healthy liver and intestine already have the enzyme, arginase, in their system.  It is this enzyme that breaks down the L-Arginine.  As L-Arginine is broken down, almost half of it is depleted by the time the supplement passes through the intestines and liver and reaches the rest of the body. Furthermore, in individuals who already have a compromised cardiovascular system, basic L-Arginine levels are not high enough to compensate with the higher levels of ADMA that may exist within the body and act as a blockage to the production of nitric oxide. It is for these reasons that a seemingly high dose L-Arginine is needed on a regular basis.   

Although side effects of taking an L-Arginine supplement are rare, it is wise to take a close look at the risks that you might assume when choosing to use a supplement.  Adverse reactions reported by those who took L-Arginine include possible upset stomach and diarrhea.  The adverse reactions that could result with combining an L-Arginine supplement with other medications and supplements has not yet been extensively studied and therefore each patient must assume the possible risks that are involved with drug interactions. 

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