Hi nhnmnh: Eating desserts/sweets raises my heart rate too. I believe many people on this site note sugar as a trigger for Afib and elevated heart rate.

Hmmm, don't know about sugar, but a lot of artificial sweeteners are known triggers, in particular Aspartame. Also, some people (like me) feel that chocolate is a trigger. Could be the sugar or the caffine.

This is a good question. Wonder if any studies have been done concerning A Fib and sugar?
If I eat much sugar in the evening really do feel "off" for several hours.
I've always thought that it was a physical reaction----not just the guilt!
D.

Hi, sugar is a trigger for me especially if it also has chocolate. I avoid chocolate all together, if I really have the need for something sweet I never eat it on an empty stomach and only a very small amount, Sugar is a stimulant in my opinion with the sugar rush. Processed is the worst, raw organics do not seem to have the same dramatic effect
Take care!

I have gotten silent (visual/aura/no headache) migraines over 30 years when I have sugar or chocolate. Also was diagnosed with reactive low blood sugar around that time. I avoid the sugar/chocolate and have protein throughout the day (a little) and I don't get the visual stuff.

petey

Hi Petey: My experience is very similar to yours. When I was 25 I was diagnosed with occular migraines and also had reactive low blood sugar. If I would eat something high in sugar, my blood sugar level would actually plummet to the high 30s/low 40s. I gave up drinking soda/pop at that age and started to snack on more proteins. If I want something sweet, I make sure I eat something with protein before I eat the sweet. I havent had an occular migraine/aura for 10 years now.

Carrie: I have only had 1 in 10 years (maybe 2). Right after eating chocolate (within 6-8 hours). The occular migraines are called spreading cortical depression... an electrical phenomenon. Read wiki:

Cortical spreading depression


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Migraine
Aura
Cortical spreading depression


Cortical spreading depression is a wave of electrophysiological hyperactivity followed by a wave of inhibition, usually in the visual cortex.


Just before I was diagnosed with afib, I had one. It had been ages since I had one.

I think they are connected.

petey

Interesting Petey. I do believe they are connected also. Until joining this support group, I had never met another person who had experienced occular migraines. I remember we had a discussion on here some time back and if I remember, at least 7 people said they experienced occular migraines as well. My son experiences migraines with pain and aura. He had an episode of Afib when he was 17. I have a feeling he will likely experience Afib again in his lifetime unfortunately.

Interesting about the sugar/ocular migraine connection--I thought it was just me! I used to think sweets were the only food group worth eating...and had the weight to prove it! Had horrible migraines, with aura and pain, until my doctor put me on a beta-blocker to combat the hypertension, and the migraines disappeared. All good for the next ten years or so.

Went off sugar and all simple carbs three years ago, resulting in losing weight, and lowering my blood pressure, and coming off the beta-blocker. Unfortunately, with no beta-blocker, on the rare occasion when I allow myself any sugar, I get the migraine (no pain, just a visual thing that I've found lasts 30-60 minutes, whether I take anything for it or not).

Now that I think about it, though, I didn't get that after Thursday's cookie incident--bet it's because I'm on the beta-blocker the cardiologist prescribed!

Haven't noticed if there is any connection to chocolate for me....
Wait a minute, my sugar ALWAYS comes in chocolate form!

Wow nhnmnh, that is interesting that no more auras/migraines since being on beta blocker. I take Atenolol as rate control and in the medication pamphet it states the medication is also used for migraine. That may be why I have never had another occular migraine. When I would have the aura and no pain, it would last for about 60 minutes from onset.

reply#9
Did you know that beta blockers, and most heart meds, along with diuretics, can cause diabetes, due to the fact that they raise blood sugar levels? Some of these meds claim a possible side effect of "heart palpitations". I wonder if this is why? Many people who suffer from migraines, also have rapid heartbeat during a headache episode. There must be some connection?
is a great site to visit to find side effects of drugs.

The newer betablockkers, like Bystolic, do not cause diabetes. The can mask low blood sugar and low blood sugar can raise your heart rate.


Pete

Hello nhnmnh, for me sugar, chocolate, extra carbs and artificial sweeteners were a trigger. I had one of my cardiologist tell me to stay away from aspartame because drinks with aspartame, like soda, tend to have a lot of sodium in them, which can mess with BP. Also, he told me another reason to stay away from aspartame as there were some studies that showed aspartame tends to strip the body of taurine, an organic acid which helps to regulate skeletal muscles and the central nervous system.

Beta blockers are prescribed for migraines.

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/beta-blockers-for-migraine-headaches

petey

I find that chocolate and artificial sugar do it - ut no so much since on tikosyn.