Herbal supplements are at the center of heart rhythm issues

Cardiologists warn that poorly regulated over-the-counter herbal supplements can lead to abnormal heart rhythms in users in their 20s.

Doctors told insiders that the supplements are the leading cause of arrhythmias in patients coming to their clinics, and warn that the lack of oversight over the development of these pills means dangerous ingredients could find their way. Bitter orange and ephedra supplements are believed to be the main culprits.

A person in their 20s suffering from arrhythmia is a rare occurrence. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports that 70 percent of cases of the disease occur in people between the ages of 65 and 85 – with the overall risk decreasing with age.

The use of dietary supplements has boomed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to the fear of some experts. While these pills can be easily found in grocery and drug stores across America, they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Experts warn that they are often useless at best and can delay a person from actually seeking appropriate medical treatment. At worst, they could be contaminated with banned ingredients that cause harm to users.

dr Danielle Belardo, a cardiologist from Newport Beach, Calif., told Insider that these herbal supplements were at the root of most of the irregular heartbeat cases she’s seen in the past few months.

“This is on the cusp of what we know about herbal supplements and arrhythmia,” Belardo said.

“Because there is such poor regulation of the formulation, purity, and potency of these herbs, we don’t have a robust literature that tells us exactly what causes what.”

She said she is now asking patients who come with an irregular heartbeat to let her know what over-the-counter medicines they may be taking.

Because many people who use these pills often take several, it’s difficult for doctors like Belardo to pinpoint exactly which ones could be causing problems.

However, previous research has linked specific dietary supplements to arrhythmia.

Often used to treat nausea, indigestion, constipation, and other gastrointestinal problems, bitter orange has been linked to irregular heartbeats.

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

There are also a host of other ingredients in all types of supplements that could pose a risk that experts aren’t even aware of.

The use of these pills skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The dietary supplements had combined sales of $11 billion in 2020, breaking the $10 billion mark for the first time.

The 17 percent year-over-year growth more than doubled the industry’s 8 percent growth in 2019.

Belardo says she respects alternative medicine but is concerned many people are turning to these supplements after being recommended to them by social media personalities who don’t offer the best advice.

“The truth is, sometimes when you look at the top health podcasts or the top health influencers, they are often not people who are recommending guideline-based, evidence-based medicine that is recommended by all major academic medical organizations,” he said you.

Other experts have also raised concerns that some people may be using supplements to replace actual medicine – and thereby harming themselves by not taking the necessary treatment.

The AARP warns that the dietary supplement industry thrives on a lack of regulation and current major players have no reason to change their standard of operation unless forced to do so.

Over-the-counter diet supplements do not contain any controlled substances — if they did, the FDA would take them off the shelves — and are generally safe.