CoQ10 for Heart Palpitations: Can It Help Calm Your Heart?
When your heart beats fast, skips, or pounds in your chest, it can feel unusual and even alarming. Palpitations that happen from time to time are usually not dangerous, but if they happen a lot or are severe, they could mean that something is wrong, especially with your heart health or energy metabolism.
Disclaimer: This content is intended solely for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Table of Contents
- Understanding Heart Palpitations
- What is CoQ10?
- How CoQ10 Supports Heart Function
- Can CoQ10 Help with Palpitations?
- Conclusion
- References and Resources
Understanding Heart Palpitations
Palpitations can cause your heart to speed, flutter, or stop beating. They can occur when you're stressed, working out, resting, or after caffeine or sugar. Stress, dehydration, low potassium, or changes in hormones are the most common causes of these. But occasionally they suggest more serious disorders, like thyroid problems, arrhythmias, or abnormalities with the structure of the heart.
To keep its rhythm, the heart needs a constant flow of energy. Electrical signals and muscle contractions require a significant amount of energy for each beat. That's where cellular fuel and antioxidants like CoQ10 come in.
What is CoQ10?
Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a fat-soluble substance that is present in all of the body's cells. It has two main jobs: it helps make ATP, which is the energy currency of cells, and it gets rid of damaging free radicals. CoQ10 is more concentrated in organs that need a lot of energy, including the heart.
As you get older or have certain health problems, your body creates less CoQ10. Some people who use cholesterol-lowering drugs report feeling tired, having muscle cramps, or having abnormalities in their heart rhythm because statins deplete CoQ10 levels a lot.
How CoQ10 Supports Heart Function
The mitochondria, primarily located in the heart muscle, require CoQ10 to produce energy. This suggests that CoQ10 is what keeps the heart beating properly. If there isn't enough of it, heart cells can run out of energy, which can cause muscles to not work properly, contractions to be erratic, and oxidative stress to rise.
CoQ10's role as an antioxidant is equally as vital. It helps keep cardiac tissues safe from free radicals, which are unstable chemicals that can mess up electrical signalling and blood flow. Numerous types of heart disease, including excessive blood pressure and arrhythmias, are associated with this oxidative stress.
Some studies also show that CoQ10 may help stabilize the heart's electrical activity, which could help cut down on instances of fluttering or erratic beats. This is vital for those who get palpitations when they exercise or are stressed, as the heart works harder then.
Can CoQ10 Help with Palpitations?
CoQ10 is not a remedy for major cardiac rhythm problems, but it may assist when palpitations are caused by problems with mitochondria, lack of nutrients, or adverse effects of medications. For example, people taking statins may develop palpitations due to reduced CoQ10 synthesis, and supplementation in these cases has been associated with symptom improvement.
There is some evidence from small clinical trials and case reports that CoQ10 may help with symptoms of congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and even high blood pressure, all of which can cause palpitations. Some cardiologists suggest it as an adjunct therapy to standard therapies, particularly in early or moderate cases.
That being said, the findings are different. CoQ10 doesn't work right away, and you usually have to use it for a few weeks before you see any advantages. It works best when used with other things like keeping your electrolytes in balance, managing stress, drinking enough water, and maybe even changing your medications with the help of a doctor.
Conclusion
The usual dose of CoQ10 is between 100 and 300 mg per day, but this can vary based on the person's health and demands. A daily dose of 200 mg is common for heart problems, and it is usually split into two doses. Always seek the ubiquinol version, which is easier for the body to use and is better absorbed by older people.
Most people can handle CoQ10. Some people may feel sick or have a headache when they take higher doses, although these problems usually go away on their own. Because it can thin the blood a little, anyone taking blood thinners should talk to their doctor before using it.
If you have palpitations that happen often or develop worse, you need to see a doctor right away. If your symptoms are moderate, sporadic, or associated with your lifestyle, CoQ10 may help your heart beat more rhythmically, strongly, and resiliently.
References and Resources:
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Griffin, R. Morgan. “Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).” WebMD, 1 Aug. 2023, www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-coenzymeq10-coq10.
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“9 Benefits and Side Effects of Coenzyme Q10 (COQ10).” Healthline, 6 Sept. 2024, www.healthline.com/nutrition/coenzyme-q10.