Magnesium is an important electrolyte that plays an essential role in normal cardiac function, and low serum magnesium levels may be associated with cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death [1–3].
In the heart, magnesium plays a key role in modulating neuronal excitation, intracardiac conduction, and myocardial contraction by regulating a number of ion transporters, including potassium and calcium channels.
Over time, low magnesium can weaken your bones, give you bad headaches, make you feel nervous, and even hurt your heart. It can also lead to low levels of other important minerals like calcium and potassium. High levels of magnesium are much less common than low levels.
It is essential for calcium metabolism and energy production and maintains electrical neutrality in cells. Magnesium deficiency can result in arrhythmias and nervous irritability. We report an adolescent girl who developed first degree heart block with multifocal atrial ectopics due to hypomagnesemia.
Every organ in the body, especially the heart, muscles, and kidneys, needs the mineral magnesium. It also contributes to the makeup of teeth and bones. Magnesium is needed for many functions in the body. This includes the physical and chemical processes in the body that convert or use energy (metabolism).
Very low magnesium levels may cause:
Nausea. Constipation. Headaches. Nighttime leg cramps.
Severe magnesium deficiency can result in: Abnormal heart rhythms. Numbness and tingling. Personality changes.
Chronic magnesium deficiency is often associated with normal serum magnesium despite deficiency in cells and in bone; the response to oral supplementation is slow and may take up to 40 weeks to reach a steady state.
When your body's magnesium level drops too much, it can be a life-threatening emergency. Call your provider right away if you have symptoms of this condition.
Carolyn Dean, the following common factors can deplete the body's magnesium and/or increase the demand for magnesium: Supplements and drugs containing caffeine. Diuretics. Certain medications, including proton pump inhibitors, asthma medications, birth control pills, insulin, digitalis, and certain antibiotics.
Too much magnesium, and the gates move slowly, which can mean your heart will beat more slowly. Too little magnesium and the gates open and close quicker. So, your heart speeds up. And, then — voila: heart palpitations.
Arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, is serious. It can cause chest pain, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, or even fainting. And these abnormal heart rhythms can be caused by low levels of magnesium.
Magnesium intake of 500 mg/d to 1000 mg/d may reduce blood pressure (BP) as much as 5.6/2.8 mm Hg. However, clinical studies have a wide range of BP reduction, with some showing no change in BP.
If we don't get enough magnesium from our food, we are more vulnerable to high levels of stress and anxiety. More stress can lead us to lose even more magnesium through the kidneys in a process of urinary extraction. Caffeine and alcohol can accelerate the rate of magnesium excretion.
Symptoms typically occur at magnesium levels below 1 mEq/L (0.5 mmol/L or 1.2 mg/dL).
A deficiency in Magnesium (along with potassium) can cause palpitations and force the heart into fatal arrhythmias including Atrial Fibrillation. Magnesium (Mg) is one of the main components of heart cell functioning, but is chronically lacking in most diets.
People with diabetes, intestinal disease, heart disease or kidney disease should not take magnesium before speaking with their health care provider. Overdose. Signs of a magnesium overdose can include nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. At very high doses, magnesium can be fatal.
You can test your magnesium levels by purchasing a simple at-home finger prick test kit which is then analysed at an accredited lab. Forth offers a number of blood tests which include magnesium such as our Nutri-check test and Menopause Health blood test.
Magnesium deficiency is common among people with alcohol use disorder (AUD), gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, and type 2 diabetes.