Overview
Heart palpitation is a prevalent condition affecting millions worldwide. A fluttering or hammering sensation in the chest that is characteristic of them is occasionally accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Even though palpitations can be unsettling, they are typically benign and go away independently. This article will cover all the essential points, from causes and diagnosis to treatments of heart palpitation.
What are heart palpitations?
Heart palpitations are the sensation where you can abnormally feel your own heart beat, whether slowly your heart is beating quickly, or irregularly; even your chest, throat, or neck may experience palpitations. Palpitations might occur anytime, even while sleeping or in your everyday routine.
Although startling, palpitations are typically not severe or dangerous. They occasionally have a connection to an aberrant cardiac rhythm, though, which necessitates medical intervention.
Signs of Heart Palpitations
The hallmark of heart palpitations is a fluttering or hammering sensation in the chest, which can seem like your heart is racing, skipping beats, or beating too hard.
Causes of Heart Palpitations
There are numerous causes behind heart palpitations. Some of them are –
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- Strong feelings of worry, anxiety, or terror. They frequently occur throughout panic attacks.
- Intense physical activity
- Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or illicit substances like amphetamines and cocaine
- Thyroid disease, low blood sugar, anaemia, low blood pressure, fever, and dehydration are some medical disorders.
- Hormone changes that occur during menstruation, during pregnancy, or right before menopause.
- Anaemia-related palpitations can occasionally occur during pregnancy.
- Medications include asthma inhalers, decongestants, diet pills, and medications to treat an underactive thyroid or avoid arrhythmias (severe heart rhythm issues).
- A few dietary and herbal supplements
- Abnormal amounts of electrolytes
- Cardiac causes which include electrophysiological disorders
After consuming large meals high in fat, sugar, or carbohydrates, some people experience palpitations. They can occasionally be triggered by consuming foods high in salt, nitrates, or monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Symptoms of Heart Palpitations
A fluttering or pounding sensation in the chest is the main sign of heart palpitations.
Other signs can include:
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- Unsteadiness or faintness
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Sweating
- Fainting or near-fainting
It’s necessary to get help immediately if you suffer any of these symptoms, together with heart palpitations.
Risk Factors for Heart Palpitations
Risk factors for heart palpitations are anxiety and stress, use of stimulants, drug use, deeper health issues, a family history of heart problems, and a dependency on drugs. Knowing these risk factors and taking action to manage them, the chance of developing heart palpitations can be reduced.
Treatment Options for Heart Palpitations
A medical professional will monitor your heart and lungs. They will also examine your medical background, symptoms, diet, and the drugs and natural supplements you consume.
Providing precise information regarding your heart palpitations to a medical expert, such as:
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- When and how frequently they occur
- Duration of each
- How you feel at the moment
- What are you doing when they first start
- What improves your mood
You won’t experience heart palpitations when seeing a doctor. They might ask you to tap your fingers to mimic the rhythm of your palpitations.
The doctor can also ask for a range of tests, such as:
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- Electrocardiogram (ECG): This examination measures the heart’s electrical activity and can identify any anomalies in the heart’s rhythm.
- Holter monitor: This is a portable ECG that you wear for 24-48 hours to record your heart’s activity over an extended period.
- Event monitor: Similar to a Holter monitor, you wear it for a more extended period and press a button to record your heart rhythm when you experience symptoms.
- Echocardiogram: This examination can find any structural irregularities in the heart by using sound waves to produce images of the organ.
- Blood tests can detect underlying medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders or anaemia.
Management of Heart Palpitations
The management of heart palpitations depends on the underlying cause. Palpitations are frequently unharmful and don’t need to be treated. However, treatment might be required if an underlying condition brings them on.
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- Lifestyle changes: Avoiding triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, managing stress, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep can help reduce palpitations.
- Medications: To help control heart rhythm, doctors may prescribe beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and other drugs.
- EP Study and Catheter ablation: A procedure where a doctor threads a catheter into the heart to identify and destroy small areas of heart tissue causing the palpitations.
Medications for Heart Palpitations
The treatment of heart palpitations with medication depends on the underlying cause. Treating the underlying medical problem causing the palpitations, such as thyroid illness or heart failure, frequently makes them disappear. If arrhythmia is the cause of the palpitations, medication can be recommended to help control the heartbeat.
When to Consult a Doctor
You can also get in touch with the expert cardiology doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.
Conclusion
Heart palpitations can be unsettling and occasionally terrifying. Patients better aware of the causes, risk factors, and available treatments can control and relieve their symptoms. People can lessen the impact of palpitations on their everyday lives and enhance their overall heart health by working with healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose the underlying cause of palpitations, making lifestyle modifications, and in some situations, taking medication. Always seek medical attention if you experience uncomfortable symptoms, which may indicate a severe underlying medical condition.
FAQs
Q. Are heart palpitations and arrhythmia the same thing?
Heart palpitations are the feeling of the heart beating too fast, slow, or irregularly. This sensation may be benign or normal, but in some cases, it may indicate an underlying health condition. Arrhythmia, on the other hand, refers to an abnormal or irregular heartbeat. It occurs when the electrical impulses that control the heart’s contractions don’t work properly, disrupting the normal heart rhythm.
Q. What are heart palpitations?
A. Heart palpitations are hammering, fluttering, or rapid heartbeat sensations. They may occasionally be triggered by disease, stress, physical activity, or medication.
Q. What causes heart palpitations?
A. Heart palpitations are frequent and typically not a significant warning indication. Strenuous activity, a lack of sleep, alcoholic beverages, coffee, cigarettes, illicit drugs, stress, and medications are some common causes. Heart palpitations may occasionally be a symptom of the menopause. Some women develop them while pregnant. Born times palpitation may to becomes of inherent cardiac cause
Q. What are the common symptoms of heart palpitations?
A. Heart palpitations can have the following symptoms:
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- Rapid heartbeat
- Flip-flopping
- Frequently fluttering
- Pounding
- Dropping beats
The throat, neck, and chest can all experience heart palpitations. They can happen when you’re moving or just lying around.
Q. How are heart palpitations diagnosed?
A. Heart palpitations are typically diagnosed after a patient has a physical examination and a healthcare expert has reviewed their medical history. The doctor will listen for any abnormalities in the heartbeat during the examination with a stethoscope.
Q. What is the treatment for heart palpitations?
A. Sometimes, blood tests might help your doctor determine the cause of your palpitations.
Other useful tests include:
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- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Echocardiography
- Holter Monitoring
- Event Recording
Your doctor could advise scheduling an appointment with a cardiologist if additional examinations or medical care are necessary.
