Many times, you must have come across people suffering from heart issues. Do you have people in your house suffering from heart palpitations? I guess most of us have aged people in the house who are sufferers of heart palpitations.
Now, the million-dollar question is what is this heart palpitation and where does this come from? To answer all your questions, have heart palpitations, we have come up with this article, dealing with the things that you should know about heart palpitations. So, without further delay, let’s get into the depth of heart palpitations.
What is heart palpitation?
When you get a feeling that your heartbeat is racing against time, pounding faster than usual and you have missed heartbeats, that is the moment you are experiencing heart palpitations. The palpitations bring such severe reactions that you can feel them not only in your chest, but also in the throat, and neck.
Heart palpitations are a common phenomenon that most people experience now and then. Let us take an example here to understand the topic better. Imagine you are going up and down the staircase of your home without any break for the next three minutes. By the time the time is up and you have stopped, you will notice that your heart has begun beating faster.
So, any kind of physical activity that requires some speed leads to heart palpitations. Therefore, it can be rightly said that heart palpitations are normal and nothing to be worried about. However, when you are experiencing heart palpitations frequently or the heart is palpitating much more than usual during not-so-strenuous activity, know that it needs medical attention. This can be a symptom of heart disease.
Causes of heart palpitations
The heart palpitations do not occur all of a sudden. There must be some causes of heart palpitations. Given below are the causes that lead to palpitation in the heart.
- Caffeine
- Exercise
- Pregnancy
- Overactive thyroid
- Low sugar, potassium and oxygen levels
- Fever
- Anaemia
- Low carbon dioxide in the body
- Blood loss
- Dehydration
- Alcohol
- Nicotine
- Medications taken during cough and cold
You will be surprised to know that there are some causes of palpitation that has no connection with the heart. They are as follows:
- Experience strong emotions such as fear, anxiety, stress and sometimes a panic attack
- During hormonal changes like pregnancy, menstruation, etc.
- Abnormal levels of electrolyte
- Consuming nutritional and herbal supplements
Symptoms of heart palpitation
Everyone experiences heart palpitations. However, the symptoms of this heart condition for all are not the same. You may not experience what your friend has experienced and vice versa. so, whenever you experience such a situation, book your consultation to get rid of your heart palpitations. Given below are some general symptoms of heart palpitations:
- Beating too fast
- Flipflopping
- Fluttering rapidly
- Pounding
- Skipping beat
Treatment for heart palpitations
When you visit your doctor regarding heart palpitations, he will do the following to be sure of the issue:
- Ask you to undergo a physical examination
- Note down your medical history
- Enquire about your current medication, lifestyle and diet
- Ask about the details and specifications of heart palpitation
For a better reading, the doctor sometimes asks to conduct some blood tests. Besides, a blood test and other essential tests can tell you about palpitation and the condition of the heart. They are as follows:
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Echocardiogram
Through the echocardiogram, the doctor measures the ultrasound of the heart. Besides, the echocardiogram also provides the function and the structure of the heart.
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Holter monitoring
In the Holter monitoring, the patient is made to wear a monitor on the chest for the next 24 to 48 hours. During this time, the monitor records the heartbeats. Unlike an electrocardiogram, the Holter monitoring has the capacity to recognize rhythm differences in the heart.
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Event recording
During an event recording, the doctor will ask you to wear an electrical device on your chest. Then, through a gadget that the doctor holds in his hand, the recordings of the heart are recorded. So, when your heart misses a beat, it will automatically be recorded through this electrical device.
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Chest x-ray
When there are severe heart palpitations, it can change or affect the condition of your lungs. To check this, a chest x-ray is done. In case the doctors find fluid deposition in your lungs, its cause can be credited to heart failure.
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Electrocardiogram
To conduct an electrocardiogram, you have to either be in complete rest or exercise for a while to make your heart beat rapidly. However, if the screening is done after exercising, it is known as a stress electrocardiogram. The methods of getting the test done can be different. But both of them produce the same results. In both cases, the doctor records the electrical signals of the heart. When there is a usual rhythm recorded, the doctor tries to find out the issue.
Dietary restrictions for heart palpitations
When you are a severe patient of palpitation, there are some dietary rules that you need to follow. Since heart palpitations do not get cured, you have to live with them for the rest of your life. Therefore, it is suggested to follow a strict diet that will maintain better heart health. Given below are some dietary tips that you ought to follow.
- Avoid alcohol and beverages completely. Nicotine, caffeine and drugs enhance the pumping of the heart and lead to stress. This can induce palpitations in the heart.
- Do not consume medications that are a source of stimulants. Generally, nutritional supplements, herbal products and medicines for cough and cold contain stimulants that are detrimental to your heart.
Also, people who are patients of palpitation should try to calm themselves whatever be the situation they are in. trying out different forms of exercises like meditation and yoga can help heart patients lead a beautiful life.
Conclusion
Therefore, heart palpitation apparently is not serious. But when it occurs frequently or during times when it is not supposed to occur, know that you need to visit a heart specialist soon. Follow the restrictions mentioned above. Also, always stay in touch with a doctor.
