Heart Palpitations
Heart Palpitations
· Assessment of Heart Palpitations
· Treatment of Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations are a feeling that your heart is beating
too hard or too fast, skipping a beat, or fluttering. You may notice heart
palpitations in your chest, throat, or neck.
Heart palpitations can be bothersome or frightening. They
usually aren't serious or harmful, though, and often go away on their own. Most
of the time, they're related to stress and anxiety or to consumption of
stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol. Palpitations also often
occur during pregnancy.
In rare cases, palpitations can be a sign of a more serious
heart condition. Therefore, if you have heart palpitations, make arrangements
to see your doctor. And seek immediate medical attention if along with
palpitations, you experience shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, or
fainting.
After taking your medical history and conducting a physical
exam, your doctor may order tests that can either confirm or rule out an
underlying cause. If an underlying cause is found, the right treatment can
reduce or eliminate palpitations. If your palpitations are not related to an
underlying cause, lifestyle changes, including stress management and the
avoidance of common triggers, can help prevent them.
Causes of Heart Palpitations
Many things can cause heart palpitations. In the vast
majority of cases, the cause is either related to your heart or is unknown.
Non-heart-related causes of palpitations include:
·
Strong emotions such as anxiety, fear, or
stress; palpitations often occur during panic attacks.
·
Vigorous physical activity
·
Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or illegal street
drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines
·
Medical conditions, including thyroid disease, a
low blood sugar level, anemia, low blood pressure, fever, and dehydration
·
Hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy,
or the perimenopausal period; sometimes, palpitations during pregnancy are
signs of anemia.
·
Medications, including diet pills,
decongestants, asthma inhalers, and some drugs used to prevent arrhythmias (a
serious heart rhythm problem) or treat an under active thyroid
·
Certain herbal and nutritional supplements
·
Abnormal electrolyte levels
Some people experience palpitations after eating heavy meals
that are rich in carbohydrates, sugar, or fat. Sometimes, eating foods with
high levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates, or sodium can bring them
on.
If you have heart palpitations after eating certain foods,
the problem could be food sensitivity. Keeping a food diary can help you
identify which foods to avoid.
