Heart Palpitations

Feeling your heart race, flutter, or pound? That's called a heart palpitation. It's a common experience, and usually nothing to worry about. Things like stress, physical activity, certain medications, or even just a cup of coffee can cause your heart to beat a little faster.

While heart palpitations can be unsettling, most of the time they're not a sign of a problem. However, in some less common cases, they could be a symptom of a more serious heart issue, like an irregular heartbeat. If you're concerned about your heart palpitations, it's always best to talk to a doctor. They can help determine the cause and whether any treatment is needed.

Your heart might feel like it's racing, fluttering, thumping hard, or skipping a beat. This is called a heart palpitation. You might also feel these sensations in your throat or neck, not just your chest. These feelings can happen while you're exercising or even when you're just relaxing.

Occasional, short-lived heart flutters (palpitations) are usually nothing to worry about. If you have a history of heart problems and your heart flutters happen often or get worse, it's important to talk to your doctor. They might recommend tests to check if the palpitations are a sign of a more serious heart condition.

However, if you have heart palpitations along with any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical help:

• Chest pain or tightness: This could indicate a heart attack or other serious issue.
• Passing out (fainting): This is a serious sign that needs immediate attention.
• Trouble breathing (shortness of breath), especially if it's severe: Difficulty breathing can be a symptom of a heart problem or other critical condition.
• Severe dizziness or lightheadedness: This could be a sign of a drop in blood pressure or other serious issues, requiring quick medical intervention.

Heart palpitations are often a mystery, with no clear reason found. Many things can cause them, including:

• Strong feelings: Feeling stressed, anxious, or having a panic attack can trigger heart palpitations. Depression can also play a role.
• Physical activity: Intense exercise can sometimes cause your heart to beat faster and feel like it's fluttering.
• Stimulants: Substances like caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, and even some cold or cough medicines (especially those with pseudoephedrine) can speed up your heart rate.
• Fever: When your body temperature rises, your heart may beat faster.
• Hormonal changes: Changes in hormones, such as those happening during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, can affect your heart's rhythm. Your thyroid gland produces hormones that control many bodily functions, and too much or too little of these hormones can also cause heart palpitations.
• Other medical conditions: While often not serious, heart palpitations can occasionally be a sign of a more serious issue, such as an irregular heartbeat.

An irregular heartbeat, also called an arrhythmia, can cause several different heart rate problems. This might mean:

• A fast heartbeat (tachycardia): Your heart beats much faster than normal.
• A slow heartbeat (bradycardia): Your heart beats much slower than normal.
• An irregular heartbeat pattern: Your heart may beat at an inconsistent or unusual rhythm.
• A combination of these: Sometimes, an arrhythmia can cause a mix of fast, slow, or irregular heartbeats.

If you're experiencing heart palpitations, it's important to talk to your doctor. They can help determine the cause and recommend the best course of action.

Heart palpitations, those sudden, noticeable flutters or racing feelings in your chest, can have several causes. Understanding these potential triggers can help you and your doctor find solutions.

Here are some things that can increase your risk of experiencing heart palpitations:

• Stress: Feeling overwhelmed, worried, or anxious can sometimes cause your heart to beat faster or more erratically. This is a common trigger for many people.

• Anxiety disorders or panic attacks: If you have conditions like anxiety or panic disorder, these episodes can create a heightened state of alertness, which often leads to a fast heart rate and palpitations.

• Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can sometimes affect heart function, potentially causing palpitations. This is usually temporary and resolves after delivery.

• Certain medications: Some medicines, especially those containing stimulants like those used for colds or asthma, can increase your heart rate and cause palpitations as a side effect. Always talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding medication and potential side effects.

• An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism): Your thyroid gland produces hormones that influence many bodily functions, including your heart rate. If your thyroid is overactive, it can speed up your heart, leading to palpitations.

• Other heart problems: Sometimes, underlying heart conditions like irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), structural changes in the heart, a prior heart attack, or prior heart surgery can cause palpitations. These are more serious situations, so it's important to see a doctor if you have any concerns.

If you experience heart palpitations, it's essential to talk to your doctor. They can help determine the cause and recommend appropriate treatment, if needed.

Heart palpitations, when linked to a heart problem, can lead to several serious complications.

• Passing out (fainting). Fast heartbeats can make blood pressure drop, causing someone to lose consciousness. This is more common in people with pre-existing heart conditions, such as those born with a heart defect (congenital heart disease) or issues with their heart valves.

• Sudden cardiac arrest. In rare cases, palpitations can be a symptom of a very serious heart rhythm problem that can stop the heart from pumping blood effectively. This is a life-threatening situation.

• Stroke. Some palpitations are caused by a condition called atrial fibrillation. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating normally. This can cause blood to pool in the heart, forming clots. If a clot breaks off and travels to the brain, it can block blood flow, leading to a stroke.

• Heart failure. Certain irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) can weaken the heart's ability to pump blood. If the irregular heartbeat is controlled, it may help improve the heart's function and lessen the chances of heart failure.

To figure out what's causing your heart to feel like it's racing or fluttering (palpitations), a doctor will first do a physical exam. They'll listen to your heart with a stethoscope and check for any signs of problems, like an enlarged thyroid gland. They'll also ask about your medical history.

If your doctor suspects your palpitations are due to an irregular heartbeat or other heart issue, they might order some tests:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This simple test measures the electrical signals that make your heart beat. Small, sticky pads (electrodes) are placed on your chest, arms, and legs. Wires connect these to a machine that creates a graph showing your heart's rhythm. An ECG can reveal if your heart is beating too fast, too slow, or skipping beats.

• Holter monitor: This is a portable ECG machine you wear for a day or more. It continuously records your heart's rhythm and rate while you go about your normal activities. This helps catch palpitations that might not show up during a regular ECG. Some modern smartwatches can also do this type of monitoring. Ask your doctor if this option is right for you.

• Event recorder: If you don't experience irregular heartbeats very often or you have them less than once a week, your doctor might recommend an event recorder. This device is worn for up to 30 days, and you press a button on it when you feel your heart palpitating. It records only the heartbeats when you have symptoms.

• Echocardiogram: This test uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. It shows the heart's structure and how blood is flowing through it. This helps doctors see if there are any problems with the heart's chambers or valves. It's a painless and non-invasive procedure.

Heart palpitations are often harmless and don't need treatment unless they're linked to a heart problem. If they're not from a heart condition, a doctor might suggest ways to avoid things that trigger them. For example, if caffeine or stress are causing the fluttering in your chest, they might advise you to cut back on those.

However, if palpitations are a sign of a problem like an irregular heartbeat (also called an arrhythmia), treatment will be aimed at fixing that underlying heart issue. This might involve medication, lifestyle changes, or even procedures to restore a normal heart rhythm.

Feeling a fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)? The best way to handle them at home is to identify and avoid what's causing them.

Find Your Triggers and Avoid Them:

• Stress Management: Palpitations are often linked to stress. Try simple ways to relax. Meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises can help calm your mind and body. Even a few minutes of focused breathing can make a difference. If stress is a persistent problem, consider talking to a doctor or counselor.

• Watch Your Intake: Things like caffeine (in coffee, tea, soda), nicotine (in cigarettes), some over-the-counter cold medicines, and energy drinks can speed up your heart rate or make it beat irregularly. Limit or avoid these if you notice palpitations after consuming them.

• Stay Away from Illegal Substances: Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines can significantly impact your heart's rhythm and cause palpitations. If you're using these substances, consider stopping or reducing their use immediately. It's crucial to talk to a healthcare professional if you're struggling with substance use.

Important Note: If your palpitations are frequent, severe, or accompanied by other symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or lightheadedness, seek immediate medical attention. These could be signs of a more serious condition. A doctor can properly diagnose the cause and recommend the best treatment plan.