Palpitations are the unpleasant feeling that your heart is beating too fast, too slowly, or in an odd way. Heart arrhythmias, or problems with the way the heart beats, are common causes of palpitations. Stress, physical work, stimulants, some medicines, or serious diseases could also be to blame. Palpitations are a typical symptom that can have many different causes.
Heart palpitations: definition and types
When there is a change in the frequency, rhythm, or strength of this muscle’s contractions, people feel palpitations, which they find unpleasant. When someone has palpitations, they may feel their heart beating faster, slower, or in strange ways. Heart palpitations are quite common. Depending on the rhythm or strength of this muscle’s contractions, people feel palpitations, which they find unpleasant. When someone has palpitations, they may feel their heart beating faster, slower, or in strange ways. Heart palpitations are quite common. It takes a few seconds most of the time. If it takes longer, talk to your doctor. People often say it feels like their chest is fluttering, pounding, or tapping.
There are two types of heart palpitations: those that come and go and those that don’t. A palpitation is a feeling that comes on quickly and then goes away quickly. If your heart is pounding like this, it could be a sign of atrial fibrillation or flutter. A gradual speeding up and slowing of the heartbeat characterise non-paroxysmal palpitations. Most of the time, sinus tachycardia, which is just a faster heart rate, is to blame. People don’t always feel palpitations in the chest. For example, some people feel them in the neck, which is also useful information for the doctor.
Causes of heart palpitations . What can cause the ailment?
Palpitations may result from physiological factors (e.g. stress, physical exertion) and not be related to any disease, but it can also be a symptom of a serious heart or other organ disease.
Possible causes of heart palpitations include:
- heart diseases: arrhythmias, conduction disorders, coronary artery disease , heart defects, pericarditis, cardiomyopathy, heart failure,
- drugs: digitalis glycosides, beta-agonists, nitrates, adrenaline, discontinuation of beta-blockers,
- stimulants: caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamine,
- mental disorders: neurosis , panic attacks, depression, hypochondria,
- stress,
- physical effort,
- hyperthyroidism ,
- hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia ,
- deficiency or excess of potassium, magnesium or calcium,
- menopause ,
- anemia ,
- fever ,
- pregnancy,
- migraine ,
- hyperventilation.
How to calm your palpitations? Home remedies
Strange heartbeat feelings are often not caused by a disease, but by things like stress, too much caffeine, fatigue, or hard work. So, sometimes you can take care of heart palpitations on your own. One way to do this is to stimulate the vagus nerve. In order to do this:
- start coughing
- hold your breath and tense up
- sing “om”,
- Splash your face with cold water,
- Take a cool shower.
Changes in your daily lifestyle habits may be necessary to calm your palpitations and eliminate further seizures :
- avoid stressful situations,
- Limit stimulants: coffee, smoking, alcohol,
- Eat right to provide the body with the necessary ingredients,
- Get some sleep.
- do sports regularly,
- Drink the right amount of fluids every day (1.5-2 l),
- Find time to rest and relax.
If reducing stress and stimulants does not improve symptoms, it is recommended to consult a doctor and perform tests.
Heart palpitations: alarming symptoms
Sometimes heart palpitations indicate a serious cause, even life-threatening. Symptoms accompanying heart palpitations that should prompt you to call a doctor are:
- dizziness or fainting _
- chest pain ,
- heart rate > 120 beats per minute or < 45 beats at rest
- serious heart disease
- sudden cardiac death in the family.
Heart palpitations that occur at rest, unrelated to a physiological factor such as stress or exertion, are worrying.
Heart palpitations – treatment
Treatment of heart palpitations depends on the cause and severity of symptoms, and may include anti-arrhythmic medications, psychotherapy, adjustment of laboratory test results, and specialized treatment for serious cardiac diseases.
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