Well, I am in hospital with a-fib . I had a murmur but update

[highplainsdem]

45. Healing vibes and prayers on the way. And I want to mention diet,

which in my experience taking care of someone with a-fib for many years is something doctors typically don't mention.

The right amount of potassium is critical for heart health. Both too little and too much can cause arrhythmias or worsen them.

It is possible to have too much if there are factors like kidney damage.

But it's much, much more common to get too little potassium in your diet. I've read that about 98% of Americans are low on potassium.

I am NOT recommending potassium supplements, unless a doctor prescribes one. Food sources are best. The best food sources are fresh or very lightly cooked fruit and veggies.

Only a tiny fraction of the US population gets enough potassium. See this USDA release: https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400530/pdf/DBrief/10_potassium_intake_0910.pdf

Low potassium not only makes heart arrhythmias and high blood pressure more likely, but it also makes developing type 2 diabetes more likely: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/potassium-diabetes#:~:text=If%20your%20potassium%20levels%20are,those%20with%20normal%20potassium%20levels . In fact it's critical enough that lower potassium intake by African-Americans is identified as one of the reasons for racial disparity in type 2 diabetes: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/potassium_levels_possible_key_to_racial_disparity_in_type_2_diabetes

My relative with a-fib, who developed it nearly 30 years before her death, eventually needed heart procedures to control it, after a series of meds didn't help enough. But during the time she was relying on meds, her diet would make a huge difference in how often she had a-fib bad enough to make another trip to the hospital necessary, And even after she had the pacemaker and ablation, it made a huge difference in how well she felt and how strong she was. (Potassium is necessary for muscle strength.)

Again, I am not recommending anyone take potassium supplements unless prescribed or at least recommended by a doctor who'll continue monitoring potassium levels.

But the average high-salt, high-sugar American diet has everything to do with the high level of heart and blood pressure problems, and the high level of diabetes as well.