Can food trigger Atrial Fibrillation?

Can food trigger Atrial Fibrillation?
Yes. I experience all your symptoms. I have atrial fibrillation with episodes lasting from 3 - 10 hours and am taking warfarin and beta blockers. I also have a hiatus hernia (without relux, just gas). Many of my fibrillations start immediately after a heavy meal or eating too quickly. Also if I lean forward and press on the diaphragm immediately after eating. I can't get the doctor to agree the connection - in fact he thinks I am up the creek, but I am convinced that they are connected. The hospital heart doctor also said that he had never heard of a connection. However my osteopath/acupuncturist actually took the connection for granted and says it is because the vagus (or vagal) nerve goes past the diaphragm and close to the heart and when the hernia is bad it triggers off the fibrillations. I asked my doctor to treat the hernia just to see what happens. He has put me on very strong digestive tablets and the hernia has subsided. I am waiting to see what happens if it flares up again. I hope no more fibs.
I would suggest that you check out the possibilty that you have a hiatus hernia remembering that you don't necessarily have to have reflux to prove you have one, just bad indigestion. Eat slowly and don't bend over after meals or even do very much for about half an hour and try not to squash the diaphragm.
I have now had acupuncture and can't believe how much more comfortable I am now after meals and no fibrillations for the last 2 1/2 weks . It is difficult to tell because I have recently been in hospital for a few days because the fibrillations got very frequent so the fibs may have stopped because of the tablets I was given and the injections of warfarin and because I had to drink potassium which controls the electrical activity in the heart. My reading was 2 instead of 5 and this was causing the fibs every other day. They gave me potassium tablets to take until I reach level 5 and I hope that my test on Wednesday reaches normal and I can stop taking them.

No real answers but would suggest that you check out the possibilty that you have a hiatus hernia remembering that you don't necessarily have to have reflux to prove you have one. Eat slowly, have small meals frequently instead of one big one and don't bend over after meals or even do very much for about half an hour and try not to squash the diaphragm. I too was frightened to eat and got quite paranoid but that feeling has now gone although I am very careful in what I eat now. No fried, spicy or fatty foods.
Do have your potassium levels checked (through a simple blood test) if you have not already done so because the level is very important. Mine was depleted through diuretics but many things can deplete it and it definitely triggers of electrical activity in the heart.The hospital coudn't wait to get the potassium into me and my warfarin levels up.

Good luck. Let me know how you get on and I will post anything I find through my search for the link that I firmly believe is there.
Patsy72Can food trigger A-fib? Certain food groups can increase the odds of creating a-fib in those with a history of preexisting a-fib or those with existing heart disease. Not to get too detailed Xanthines (found in chocolate) and caffeine (found in coffee and tea) are two common sources that have been implicated-- but what t you describe is not food induced a-fib but rather the food induced retching that triggered the a-fib . For the most part a-fib can be stabilized and treated medically -- What is really of concern in this whole matter is your protracted history of nausea and,bloating after eating or drinking anything- your Doctor should be actively searching for reasons why you have these symptoms ie hiatal hernia,gall bladder, ulcer,pancreas etc...Very good advice here about getting your "hiatal hernia" risk assessed. Often GI reflux can irritate your heart as well. I would recommend a consult to a gastroenterologist. Also keep in mind that whenever food or drink enters the stomach, blood flow is diverted to that area to assist with digestion. That means blood flow is diverted away from your heart (not alot). Have you had complete cardiac workup to determine if you have any coronary blockages. Even small diversions of blood away from the coronaries in the presence of coronary occlusions can trigger cardiac arrythmias and/or chest pain. Some people are very sensitive to this. My experience with recovering heart attack patients is to insist on rest for at least 30-45 minutes after meals to avoid any additional stress to the heart while food is being digested. Sitting upright for 30 minutes after meals also helps if you have hiatal hernia and/or reflux disease. Just some tips, hope it helps.

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