Herbal supplements are at the heart of heart rhythm problems –

Cardiologists warn that poorly controlled over-the-counter herbal supplements cause heart rhythm problems in users in their 20s.

Doctors told Insider that supplements are the most common cause of arrhythmias in patients traveling to their clinics, and warned that a little oversight in the development of these pills means dangerous ingredients could get in. are the main culprits.

A person in their twenties suffering from arrhythmia is rare. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reports that 70% of cases of the disease occur in people aged 65 to 85, and the overall risk decreases with age.

To the fear of some experts, supplement use has exploded since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although these pills are readily available in US grocery stores and pharmacies, they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Experts warn that at best, they are often useless and can really delay a person seeking appropriate medical care. In the worst cases, they can be contaminated with banned ingredients that harm users.

Dr. Danielle Belardo, a cardiologist living in Newport Beach, California, told Insider that these herbal supplements are the cause of most of the irregular heartbeats she’s seen in the past few months.

“This is based on what we know about herbal supplements and arrhythmia,” Belardo says. Said.

“As there is little regulation on the formulation, purity, and efficacy of these herbs, we don’t have a solid literature to tell us exactly what’s causing this.”

Now, she said, she asks patients who come in with irregular heartbeats to know what over-the-counter medications they’re taking.

Because many people who use these pills often take several, it is difficult for doctors like Belardo to determine which ones may be causing the problem.

However, previous research has linked certain supplements with arrhythmias.

Often used as a treatment for nausea, indigestion, constipation and other gastrointestinal problems, bitter orange has been associated with irregular heartbeats.

Experts also warn that ephedra and ephedrine alkaloids, which were banned in the United States nearly 20 years ago because they’ve been linked to irregular heartbeats, strokes, and heart attacks, may also be contaminants in some pills.

The NIH has historically linked bitter orange supplements (left) to heart rhythm problems. Supplements using ephedra (right) are banned in the United States, but can still contaminate some doses

There are many other ingredients in any type of supplement that can pose a risk that even experts aren’t aware of.

The use of these pills has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Supplements surpassed $10 billion for the first time, combined with an estimated $11 billion in sales in 2020.

Its 17% annual growth rate more than doubled the industry’s 8% growth in 2019.

Belardo says he respects alternative medicine, but is concerned that many people turn to these supplements after being recommended by social media personalities who don’t offer the best advice.

“The truth is that sometimes when you watch the best health podcasts or top health influencers, it’s usually not people who recommend the guideline, evidence-based medicine recommended by all the major academic medical organizations,” he said.

Other experts have also expressed concern that some people are using supplements to replace real medicine and thus harming themselves by not seeking the necessary treatment.

The AARP warns that the supplement industry has grown from a lack of regulation, and today’s big players have no reason to change operating standards unless it’s imperative.

Over-the-counter supplements do not contain controlled substances—if they did, the FDA would have removed them from the shelves—and are generally safe.