What element deficiency in summer may lead to arrhythmia?
Recently, summer has arrived, and the weather has become hot. I feel that my heart is not beating properly, so I would like to ask: what element deficiencies in summer might lead to arrhythmia?
Doctor's answer (1)
During summer's high temperatures, the body cools itself by sweating. A large loss of sweat may lead to an electrolyte imbalance, especially the loss of minerals such as potassium, sodium, and magnesium. These elements help maintain normal cardiac physiological functions, and their deficiency can affect the stability of myocardial cell membranes, thereby inducing arrhythmias.
Potassium ions participate in the depolarization and repolarization processes of myocardial cells within the heart's conduction system, helping maintain a stable heart rhythm. Hypokalemia is one cause of arrhythmias. The normal serum potassium concentration range is 3.5-5.5 mmol/L, and when the concentration falls below 3.5 mmol/L, it is referred to as hypokalemia.
In summer, excessive sweating, insufficient water intake, and imbalanced diets may all contribute to the development of hypokalemia. Sodium ions mainly regulate fluid balance inside and outside the heart and affect cardiac contractile function; magnesium ions help maintain the relaxed state of the myocardium and prevent excessive myocardial excitation.
Deficiencies in electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, and magnesium during summer may induce or worsen arrhythmias, such as ventricular premature contractions and atrial fibrillation.
