Rx Drug Independence
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"Ask the Doc" About Rx Drug Independence
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| Q & A to Inspire and Empower Your Inner Healer | |||||
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As one person's learning experience can often be valuable to others, we've posted below sample questions and answers about heart health, as it relates to prescription drug independence, that Dr. Sinatra has received over time from patients and his Heart, Health & Nutrition newsletter subscribers. We hope they will provide insight for you, or someone you know, who may be experiencing similar issues. Links to more Q & A may be found on our "Ask the Doc" page.
Q: My doctor has recommended that I get a pacemaker since I started having episodes of slow heart rate due to atrial fibrillation. I’m also on a number of drugs. Can you suggest any natural remedies?
Slow heart rates during atrial fibrillation (AF) may be due to a problem with the conduction system or the result of medications given to control the high heart rates of AF. Your physician may have recommended that you consider a pacemaker if your current slow heart rate is excessively low and/or your slow heart rate episodes are creating symptoms like extreme fatigue, lightheadedness or even passing out.
If my AF patients have an acceptable quality of life (no repeated symptoms of dizziness or loss of consciousness), a satisfactory exercise evaluation and monitored evidence of heart rate control, I try to avoid some of the more toxic drugs commonly prescribed to maintain an acceptable heart rate range (the actual range varies with the individual) by adding nutritional and herbal supplements to the treatment plan.
I am often able to successfully achieve “rate control” – getting the heart rate to an asymptomatic level with low doses of a beta-blocker in combination with the following:
Many of my patients do require a pacemaker or have ablation therapy if they swing between very low and very high heart rates, despite medication and the above recommendations. Ask your physician to help you with the guidelines I have outlined, and have your heart closely monitored while following my treatment plan.
Do you have a question about a topic related to prescription drugs for heart health that you'd like answered on our site? E-mail us at
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and we'll post an answer on this page (please note that Dr. Sinatra does not provide medical advice through Heart MD Institute).
The above Q&A has been reprinted or adapted from Candid Advice About Your Heart, a Heart, Health & Nutrition supplement, with permission from Healthy Directions, LLC.
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