Ask the doctors: Can a low magnesium level cause an arrhythmia?
I recently developed atrial fibrillation, and my doctor said it was because my magnesium level was low. What would cause this to happen?The most common causes of low magnesium are medications—particularly diuretics (water pills) and a few medicines that can injure the kidneys. Other causes include heavy alcohol use and chronic diarrhea, so the first question is whether you have either of those problems. Some gastrointestinal conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, can cause loss of magnesium from the bowels, as can syndromes causing very heavy urination, which eliminates magnesium through the urine.
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