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Heart palpitations: Overview, causes, symptoms and treatment.

Last updated on : 16 May, 2024

Read time : 6 min

What are heart palpitations, and palpitations causes?

Heart palpitations are the sensations of your heart “beating, pounding,” or of missing heartbeats. It can be felt in the chest, throat, or neck. Palpitations can strike at any time, even when you’re resting or going about your daily routine. Palpitations are not usually dangerous or damaging, despite their startling nature, but they can be linked to an irregular cardiac rhythm. When someone suffers from heart palpitations, they may notice irregular heartbeat. It is usually not significant, but it can suggest a problem that requires medical treatment. People are usually ignorant of their heartbeats, however, they do become aware of them on occasion. This could be because their heart is beating excessively loudly, slowly, or erratically. A sensation that your heart is racing, hammering, fluttering, or skipping a beat, which can be uncomfortable but is seldom a symptom of heart disease. Heart palpitations can be caused by a variety of factors other than an underlying illness. Skipped heartbeats, respiration changes, exercise, stress, smoking, marijuana, alcohol, and some medications are several reasons for palpitations.

What are heart palpitations causes and heart palpitations symptoms?

n certain cases, the cause and heart palpitations symptoms are unknown. If you have any of the following signs or symptoms, your palpitations are more likely to be caused by an irregular heart rhythm: Heart disease has several significant risk factors.
Heart palpitations can be induced by a variety of factors, including:

  • Emotions and psychological triggers
  • Palpitation caused by medications
  • hormone changes caused by medications
  • issues with the heart rhythm
  • changes in one’s lifestyle
  • other medical issues besides heart disease

The following are the common palpitation causes of heart:

  1. Emotions and psychological triggers- Emotions or psychological concerns can also induce heart palpitations, such as excitement or apprehension, Panic attacks caused by stress or anxiety – a strong feeling of anxiety or fear, accompanied by nausea, perspiration, shaking, and heart palpitations. If you’re nervous, anxious, or panicked, practising breathing techniques and understanding how to deal with a panic attack can help. Heart palpitations can be induced by a variety of factors, including anxiety, tension, fear, panic, exercise, Pregnancy, Caffeine, etc. Certain emotional feelings can be reasons for palpitations.
  2. Palpitation caused by medications- Medication can also be Palpitations causes. It includes Inhalers and decongestants for asthma, beta-blockers (for high blood pressure or heart disease), thyroid and antiarrhythmic medications, cough and cold treatments, and several herbal and nutritional supplements. This includes some diet or weight loss tablets. Palpitations can be triggered by a variety of medications, including Antihistamines, such as terfenadine antidepressants, such as citalopram and escitalopram antifungal medicines, such as itraconazole high blood pressure (hypertension) medicines, such as hydralazine and minoxidil antihistamines, such as terfenadine antibiotics, such as clarithromycin and erythromycin antifungal medicines, such as itraconazole.
    If you suspect a medicine is causing your heart palpitations, consult your doctor. However, before discontinuing a recommended treatment, seek medical guidance.
  3. Changes in hormones- Heart palpitations in women can occur as a result of hormonal changes that occur during the following periods: Pregnancy and menopause are two phases of a woman’s life. Palpitations are usually only transient in these circumstances and are not a cause for concern.
  4. Issues with the heart rhythm- An issue with the heart rhythm (arrhythmia) can produce palpitations in some people. Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent form, in which the heart beats erratically and quicker than normal. Atrial flutter is the second most common type. – an irregular and rapid heartbeat
  5. Changes in one’s lifestyle- They’re usually brought on by stress and worry, or by consuming too much Cocaine and amphetamines, Nicotine, coffee, beverages containing alcohol, etc. They can also occur during pregnancy. Palpitations can be a symptom of a more serious cardiac problem in rare circumstances.
  6. Other medical issues besides heart disease- Apart from emotional reasons for palpitations, medical conditions such as overactive thyroid, low blood sugar, potassium, oxygen, or carbon dioxide, fever, anaemia, dehydration, blood loss, and shock can also be reasons for palpitations.

Palpitations treatment and prevention

A remedy for irregular heartbeats begins with diagnosing the reasons for palpitations and determining the best course of action. Several preventive measures for palpitation of the heart can be taken if your doctor determines that no treatment is indicated, you can take the following steps to reduce your risk of experiencing palpitations:

  • Reduce your level of anxiety and stress (including panic attacks). Meditation, yoga, guided imagery, aromatherapy, and biofeedback. It’s best to do something calming.
  • Use caution when ingesting stimulants like caffeine and nicotine. Caffeine consumption should be reduced or eliminated. Avoid consuming energy drinks.
  • Reduce your alcohol consumption.
  • If you have a cold or asthma, don’t take Sudafed or any other drug that contains pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). Changing the dosage or discontinuing a medicine without consulting your doctor is never a good idea.
  • Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss whether or not you can switch from your current medication for an underlying condition that causes palpitations (e.g., hypothyroidism or anaemia).
  • Arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats, which can be rapid, slow, or irregular) and electrical abnormalities in the heart are possible causes of palpitations if you have heart disease. A doctor should be called if a person experiences these kinds of palpitations or the palpitations causes are unknown.
  • Maintain a journal of your activities, as well as the meals and beverages you consume, and keep track of when you experience palpitations.
  • Avoid smoking and other tobacco products.
  • Consult your doctor if a drug is producing palpitations.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Maintain a balanced diet.
  • Maintain blood pressure and cholesterol level.

Medications or medical procedures may be recommended by your doctor if you have palpitations due to arrhythmia. To treat palpitations, beta-blockers are the most usually prescribed type of medication. Controlling the passage of electricity through the heart is one of the primary functions of these medications.
If you’re experiencing palpitations due to an arrhythmia, your cardiologist can conduct a medical treatment known as ablation. Do not ignore any symptoms of shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting if they are accompanied by palpitations. These could be warning indications of heart disease.
Any underlying health issues must be addressed by your doctor. In other cases, the doctor is unable to determine the root cause of the problem. As a last option, you may be successful in overcoming your heart palpitations by quitting smoking or cutting back on your caffeine use. If you suspect that medicine is the reason for palpitations, talk to your doctor about other options. The palpitations should go away on their own in these circumstances. And by indulging in a healthy lifestyle, you may be able to prevent them from returning.

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Our healthcare experts have carefully reviewed and compiled the information presented here to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness. It is important to note that this information serves as a general overview of the topic and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or cure any health problem. This page does not establish a doctor-patient relationship, nor does it replace the advice or consultation of a registered medical practitioner. We recommend seeking guidance from your registered medical practitioner for any questions or concerns regarding your medical condition.

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