HEART BECOMES IRRITABLE WHEN DEPRIVED OF MAGNESIUM

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HEART BECOMES " IRRITABLE " WHEN DEPRIVED OF MAGNESIUM

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The Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota has

released an alarming report that reveals when humans are deprived of

magnesium they may begin to experience abnormal heart beats.

[American Journal Clinical Nutrition 75: 550-54, March 2002]

 

The heart muscle of people who experience sudden-death heart attack

has been found to be low in magnesium. Areas of the world where

drinking water is low in magnesium (soft water areas) have higher

rates of heart attacks.

 

Magnesium is a muscle relaxant, while calcium is a muscle

constrictor.

Low magnesium intake is associated with muscle spasm, tremors and

convulsions.

 

Most Americans, particularly women, have been advised to consume

1200-1500 milligrams of calcium daily.

Virtually none of these women have been told that calcium in single

doses that exceed 500 milligrams are *not absorbed*

and that they only need an additional 200 milligrams

of supplemental calcium since their diet already provides about 800

milligrams of this mineral.

 

Since 99 percent of magnesium resides inside living cells, blood

serum levels are not a good indicator of magnesium deficiency.

In other words, your doctor can't easily tell you by a blood test if

your magnesium levels are low.

 

Most Americans, 8 in 10, do not consume enough magnesium.

 

The countries that have the highest mortality rates in the world are

the Scandinavian countries and New Zealand where more calcium is

consumed from dairy products,

while for comparison the lowest mortality rates in the world are in

Portugal and Japan

where calcium-rich dairy products are not consumed regularly.

 

Americans consume about 800 milligrams of calcium daily (milk

drinkers may get 1200-1500 mgs from their diet alone),

but only consume about 275 milligrams of magnesium.

Thus the dominance of calcium over magnesium produces symptoms of

muscle spasm.

Migraines, eyelid twitch, heart flutters, back aches, premenstrual

tension, leg cramps and constipation are all linked to calcium

*overload*.

 

 

A significant percentage of American adults consume more than 2000

milligrams of daily calcium, the point where side effects of

overdosage begin to be reported.

 

More than 300,000 sudden-death

heart attacks are reported annually in the US (more than 80 per day)

which are believed to be related to excessive calcium and a shortage

of magnesium.

 

Modern medicine's answer to the problem is to prescribe billions of

dollars of calcium-blocker drugs.

 

Magnesium is a " natural " calcium blocker, but this goes unrecognized

by most physicians

 

Researchers warn that adults who consume excessive amounts of

caffeine or alcohol, or who take water pills (diuretics), are prone

to experience irregular heart beats and should consume more

magnesium.

The same is true for diabetics and people with low thyroid.

 

Most Americans consume tap water that has been softened (sodium

added) which worsens the problem.

 

Sodium 'depletes' magnesium levels.

 

American adults need to supplement their diet with 200-400

milligrams of magnesium. The only side effect of too much magnesium

is loose stool.

Reducing dosage resolves this problem.

 

Copyright Knowledge of Health, Inc., 2002

Written By: Bill Sardi

 

 

www.alternative-medicine-message-boards.info

Posted by Chrisgaren

" Magnesium Deficiency and Sudden Death "

Reprinted from:

 

http://www.drgrisanti.com/magnesium.htm

---

The Grisanti Report -A Reliable Source for Alternative Medical Advice

Report #1260

-

MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY & SUDDEN DEATH

Written and Researched by Ronald J. Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O.

 

An athletic 20 year man is playing basketball and suddenly collapses

on the court and dies.

 

On a hot July day, a young and vibrant college football player

suddenly makes a great tackle and never gets up.. only to be

pronounced dead 5 minutes later.

High School track runner dies after finishing second in a race.

 

The sad truth is 1 out of 50,000 young adults will fall victim to

Sudden Death.

 

Most sudden deaths have been linked to a thickened, enlarged heart

called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), or by a condition that

disturbs the rhythm of the heart called an arrhythmia.

 

When one sweats, a significant amount of magnesium is lost.

Magnesium is

the most under-recognized electrolyte disorder in the U.S. Dr.

Mildred Seelig, one of the country's leading authorities on

magnesium suggests that 80%-90% of the population is deficient is

magnesium

 

It is beyond the extent of this article why the public is being

denied the truth of the seriousness of magnesium deficiency and

sudden death. The amount of medical research could fill a book, but

it is unfortunately being ignored.

 

According to Micheal A. Brodsky M.D., associate professor of

medicine at the University of Medicine and the director of the

Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at the University of California..

 

mineral imbalances interfere

with the heart's normal nerve function.

 

While most athletes have been conditioned to drink a potassium rich

drink after sweating.. very few have been educated on the dangers of

a magnesium deficiency.

 

Dr. Brodsky states that arrhythmia therapy should

focus on replenishing two key minerals: potassium and magnesium.

 

Almost all physicians have known for some time just how vital

potassium is for normal heartbeat.

 

Magnesium is an entirely different story, however. According to

Carla Sueta M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of

medicine and cardiology at the University of North Carolina at

Chapel Hill School of Medicine " apparently,

many doctors still don't realize how important a role this mineral

can play in some heart patients.

 

In fact, most never check the magnesium level. She has shown through

her research that magnesium reduced the incidence of several types

of ventricular arrhythmia by 53 to 76 percent.

 

Magnesium deficiency can be induced by the very drugs meant to help

heart problems. Some types of diuretics (water pills) cause the body

to

excrete both magnesium and potassium, as does digitalis.

 

And magnesium deficiency is often at the bottom of what's called

refractory potassium deficiency.

 

The amount of magnesium in the body determines the amount of

a particular enzyme that determines the amount of potassium in the

body, " he explains.

 

So if you are magnesium-deficient, you may in turn be potassium-

deficient, and no amount of potassium is going to correct this

unless you are also getting enough magnesium.

 

The Best Test To Determine Your Level of Magnesium

 

Although most physicians rarely check this important mineral, the

few that do usually rely on test called Serum Magnesium.

 

Unfortunately, this

test only measures approximately 1% of the magnesium in your body..

a poor test at best. The " Gold Standard " and the most accurate test

is the RBC Minerals or more commonly called Elemental Analysis in

Packed

Erythrocytes. This test examines the levels of eight minerals and

seven toxic heavy metals.

 

The erythrocyte is the red blood cell that floats in our serum to

carry oxygen to our cells.

 

The minerals this test analyzes from inside the red blood cell

includes magnesium, manganese,

molybdenum, potassium, selenium, vanadium and zinc. Another test

which has proven to be extremely valuable in detecting magnesium

deficiencies is called the Urine Magnesium Loading Test.

 

In this test, the patient collects a 24-hour urine sample and the

total magnesium is measured. The patient is then given a dose

Magnesium Chloride 18% and another 24-hour urine specimen is

collected.

 

The magnesium is again measured. If the

body retains more than a certain amount of magnesium, then it is

concluded that the body is magnesium deficient.

 

Common Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

 

The most common symptoms include back and neck pain, muscle spasms,

anxiety, panic disorders, Raynaud's spastic vessels, arrhythmia,

fatigue, eye twitches, vertigo, migraines.

 

Best Sources of Magnesium

 

The best way of insuring enough magnesium is to eat a variety of

whole foods, including organic whole grains, nuts, seeds and

vegetables, preferably food grown on naturally composted soil. The

green color of green vegetables is due to chlorophyll, which is a

molecule that contains magnesium. Avoid refined processed foods,

especially white sugar and

white flour products, as most magnesium is removed from them.

 

Dr. Grisanti's Comments:

 

If you are suffering with a heart problem and have not had your

magnesium checked, then I want to urge you to have your physician

order the two tests listed above. Unless you have proof that your

magnesium is within normal levels, I want you to realize that you

are playing with your health!

 

 

 

References

 

1:Eisenberg MJ, Magnesium deficiency and sudden death (editorial),

AM Heart J 1992 Aug; 124(2):544-9

2:Magnes Res 1994 Jun;7(2):145-53

3:Tzivoni, Dan, M.D. and Keren, Andre, M.D., " Suppression of

Ventricular Arrhythmias by Magnesium " , The American Journal of

Cardiology, June 1, 1990;65:1397-1399.

4:Miner Electrolyte Metab 1993;19(4-5):323-36

5:Keller, Peter K. and Aronson, Ronald S., " The Role of Magnesium in

Cardiac Arrhythmias " , Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, May/June

1990;32(6):433-448.

6:Biochim Biophys Acta 1993 Oct 20;1182(3):329-32

7:Biochim Biophys Acta 1994 Jan 11;1225(2):158-64

8: " Practical Briefings: Clinical News You Can Put Into Your Practice

Now. Ventricular Arrhythmias and Magnesium " , Patient Care, October

15, 1990;16-20

9:Magnes Res 1993 Jun;6(2):191-2

10:Hennekens (1987) Epidemiology Medicine, p.54-98

11:Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg 1993;88:474-90

12:Am J Cardiol 1992 Oct 8;70(10):44C-49C

13:Fiziol Zh SSSR Im I M Sechenova 1992 Jul;78(7):71-7

 

 

 

© 2001 Ronald J. Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O

 

NOTICE: This information is provided for educational purposes. Any

medical procedures, dietary changes, or nutritional supplements

discussed herein should only be undertaken on the advice of a

qualified

physician.

 

Ronald J. Grisanti, D.C., D.A.B.C.O

The Grisanti Center of Integrative Medicine

4200 East North Street, Suite 14 • Greenville, SC 29615

(864) 292-0226 • FAX: (864) 268-7022

 

 

Reprinted from:

http://www.drgrisanti.com/magnesium.htm

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