The Effect of Diet on Cardiovascular Diseases: Cardiac Arrhythmias Part I

Abstract

The heart is a mechanical pump that contracts in response to the action potential, a bioelectrical signal. The action potential starts in the sinus node cells and travels through both atria, causing them to contract. The atrioventricular (AV) node is the next stage of signal transmission, which sends the signal to the ventricles with a small delay to allow the atria to contract. The bundle of His conveys the stimulation from the AV node to the subendocardial Purkinje fibres, which excite the ventricles and allow them to contract in synchrony. Disturbances of action potential generation and/or conduction can lead to changes in the regular heart rhythm called arrhythmias. Cardiac arrhythmias are usually due to cardiovascular diseases. Diet impacts cardiac arrhythmias by reducing cardiovascular diseases. However, diet can also directly influence arrhythmia incidence and severity. The influence of diet as a low-cost intervention to improve cardiovascular health and reduce cardiac arrhythmias is discussed in this 2-part manuscript.