Vitamins and minerals play a vital role in maintaining our overall health. But despite their benefits, their importance is often overlooked, leading to various health complications.
Magnesium, for instance, is one such essential nutrient that not only helps regulate muscle and nerve functions but also controls blood sugar and blood pressure levels. Additionally, experts recognise its role in keeping chronic illnesses at bay, particularly heart diseases.
Also Read: From Headaches To Numbness And Tingling Sensations, Neurological Symptoms Of Magnesium Deficiency
Can Magnesium Deficiency Impact The Heart?
Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Vineet Bhatia, Director - Interventional Cardiology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, said magnesium deficiency can negatively affect the heart by reducing the function of cardiac Na-K-ATPase. He noted that this enzyme plays a critical role in actively transporting sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane of heart muscle cells.
However, when magnesium levels are low, Na-K-ATPase activity diminishes, leading to an imbalance of electrolytes within the heart cells, with an increase in sodium and calcium and a decrease in magnesium and potassium.
According to him, this disruption can impair the heart's ability to maintain a regular rhythm and contractility, potentially leading to complications like arrhythmias or even heart failure.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines arrhythmia as a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat, wherein the heart may beat too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular rhythm.
Recognise Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms Early
Magnesium deficiency occurs when the body does not have enough magnesium and/or fails to get adequate amounts from foods and other magnesium sources.
This condition, also called hypomagnesemia, is often caused by alcoholism, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and renal failure, said Dr Subhash Chandra, Chairman and HOD-Cardiology and Structural Heart Disease, BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, in an older interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team.
Some of the common symptoms of magnesium deficiency include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Nighttime leg cramps
- Numbness or tingling in the legs or hands
- Body weakness
- Tremors
Besides keeping an eye out for the symptom, Dr Bhatia also recommends getting a blood test, which can check the magnesium level.
Other tests that may be done include a calcium blood test, a comprehensive metabolic panel, a potassium blood test, and a urine magnesium test.
Also Read: Your Hair Loss May Be Due To Magnesium Deficiency: Here’s How To Handle It
How To Improve Magnesium Levels In The Body
According to Dr Chandra, the recommended daily allowances of magnesium are 420 mg for men and 320 mg for women in adults.
Magnesium levels are primarily regulated by the kidneys and the intestines, as per Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease. Most magnesium is absorbed in the intestines, whereas excess amounts of the mineral are filtered by the kidneys.
For those suffering from magnesium deficiency, here are some natural sources of the mineral:
- Banana
- Spinach
- Yoghurt
- Black beans
- Soy products like tofu or soy milk
- Green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale
- Legumes
- Avocado
- Chia or pumpkin seeds
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your expert if you are dealing with any health issues to get the necessary treatment.]