What Are The Symptoms Of Dehydration
The following are the most common symptoms of dehydration. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
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Thirst
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Irritability
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Skin that does not flatten when pinched and released
The symptoms of dehydration may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Be Still My Heart: How A Heart Rhythm Specialist Can Help
When this happens, electrophysiologists first try and slow theheart rate using medicines, Dr. Taigen says. But these medicines, known asbeta-blockers or calcium channel blockers, can also drop the blood pressure,he notes. Quite often, theres not much room for blood pressure to go lower.
If your blood pressure is too low for medications, aprocedure called direct current cardioversion can get the rhythm back tonormal.
With this procedure, we put pads on the front and back of the chest and sedate the patient for a minute or two, Dr. Taigen explains. When they are asleep, we deliver a shock that stops the heart from beating irregularly, so the natural heartbeat resumes.Once the heart rhythm is back to normal, anelectrophysiologist determines if a more permanent treatment is needed. Thesecould include:
- Ablation: This procedure uses cold orheat energy to stop faulty electrical signals.
- Pacemaker: Doctors place a small deviceunder the skin to send electrical impulses that change the heart rhythm.
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator :Like a pacemaker, the ICD works by detecting and stopping faulty heart rhythmswith electrical signals.
- Surgery: Surgeons create scar tissue withincisions to permanently interrupt faulty electrical pathways in the heart.
Normal Resting Heart Rate For Kids
Childrens heart rates are normally faster than those of adults. According to Cleveland Clinic, the normal resting heart rate for a child aged six to 15 is between 70 to 100 beats per minute.
Many factors can affect your resting heart rate, including your level of physical activity. In fact, highly trained athletes can have a resting heart rate of around 40 beats per minute!
Other factors that can affect resting heart rate include:
- Age. You may find that your resting heart rate decreases as you get older.
- Temperature. Your heart rate may increase slightly when youre exposed to hot temperatures.
- Medication side effects. For example, medications such as beta-blockers can lower your resting heart rate.
- Emotions. If youre anxious or excited, your heart rate may increase.
- Weight. People who are obese may have a higher resting heart rate. This is because the heart has to work harder to supply the body with blood.
- Body positioning. Heart rate can increase temporarily when you move from a sitting to a standing position
- Smoking. Smokers tend to have a higher resting heart rate. Quitting smoking can help bring it back down.
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Are There Any Chemotherapy Drugs That Cause Tachycardia
Medications and Drugs. Some of the chemotherapy drugs administered have side effects that include tachycardia, or rapid heart rate. Trisenox, or arsenic trioxide, is used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia, after other chemotherapies have been ineffective, that can cause rapid heart rate, notes ChemoCare.
What Is Dehydration In Adults
Dehydration Facts
Dehydration is a condition that can occur when the loss of body fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. With dehydration, more water is moving out of individual cells and then out of the body than the amount of water that is taken in through drinking. Medically, dehydration usually means a person has lost enough fluid so that the body begins to lose its ability to function normally and then begins to produce symptoms related to the fluid loss. Although infants and children are at highest risk for dehydration, many adults and especially the elderly have significant risk factors.
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How Are Heart Palpitations Managed
If you have heart palpitations, or irregular or rapid heartbeats, there are a number of things you can do:
- Try to sit down and relax or find somewhere quiet to rest.
- Keep yourself calm and in a comfortable position.
- Try not to panic as this can make your symptoms worse.
- You may find it helpful to loosen any restrictive clothing that can affect your breathing, such as your collar button and tie.
- Avoid any stimulants that could make your palpitations worse this includes caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and recreational drugs.
If you are concerned about your heart palpitations, please consult your doctor.
Resting Heart Rate And Health
A relatively low resting heart rate is considered healthy, while a high resting heart rate may increase the risk of various conditions.
A lower heart rate allows the heart to maintain a healthful rhythm and respond to routine stressors efficiently. These may include exercise, illness, and day-to-day activities.
Having a relatively low heart rate is a significant contribution to overall health. An abnormally high heart rate can lead to a variety of health risks and conditions.
Complications associated with a high heart rate include:
- low energy levels
Stress may cause a high heart rate.
Each heartbeat arises from specialized muscle cells called myocytes.
When these cells need more oxygen, as during exercise, the brain sends messages to the heart, causing myocytes to make stronger, more frequent pulses.
Everyone experiences sudden, temporary changes in their heart rate. They may be caused by:
Having a chronically high or abnormal heart rate is often a sign of an unhealthy lifestyle or an underlying medical condition.
Common long-term causes of a high heart rate include:
- lack of exercise
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Dehydration Heart Rate And Heart Health
Dehydration causes strain on your heart. The amount of blood circulating through your body, or blood volume, decreases when you are dehydrated. To compensate, your heart beats faster, increasing your heart rate and causing you to feel palpitations. Also your blood retains more sodium, making it tougher for it to circulate through your body.
So how much water should you drink to stay hydrated? It really depends on how much your body needs. Some situations where you should drink more water include:
- If you are exercising or doing other physical activities.
- If you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.
- If you are showing signs of dehydration, such as dizziness or weakness.
Please also keep in mind that certain medical conditions may require varying hydration strategies and consult with your physician as required.
What Should You Do If You Have Heart Palpitations
If you begin to experience chest pains or tightness, you should seek medical attention. Heart palpitations could be a symptom of a serious heart-related condition. You shouldnt ignore them.
Learn about your family history. If you have a family member that has had any type of heart disease, this increases your risk of having a heart attack.
Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, call 911 or go to the emergency room if you feel sudden, intense heart palpitations. This is especially true if theyre accompanied by:
- shortness of breath
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When I Eat Carbs And Sugar My Heart Rate Increases Why Is That
Ive been on a very low carb diet for the past four months. When I eat carbs and sugar, my heart rate increases and I can feel it even when Im not doing anything. Why is that? Can I stop it?
A person is diagnosed with tachycardia when the heart rate is more than 100 beats per minute . The normal resting heart rate for adults is about 60 to 100 BPM and for infants, it is about 110 BPM.
Tachycardia after eating is an uncommon disorder and for the people who experience it, it can create anxiety and stress. Experiencing slightly higher heart rate after having snacks or meals is quite normal, because increased flow of blood is required to digest the food. But, if your heart starts beating rigorously after meals, then it could be a symptom of tachycardia. There is no need to panic as people who experience it can lead a normal life.
The episodes of rapid heartbeat usually begin within 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. The heart rate may go up to 120 beats per minute or even more. Sometimes, it lasts up to 6 hours. An adrenaline rush may be experienced by the person. There can be difficulty in resting, sleeping, or breathing. The person may suffer from bloating and indigestion. If your heart starts beating irregularly or very rapidly after eating, you could have cardiac arrhythmia.
Causes of High Heart Rate after Meals
> > Processed food or food high in oil or food rich in MSG, nitrates and sodium can make your heart beat faster.
What To Expect At The Doctors
Your doctor may use a variety of diagnostic tools to help diagnose your condition, including:
- Electrocardiogram. Also referred to as an ECG or EKG, this diagnostic tool uses small electrodes to record the electrical activity of your heart. Your doctor can use the information collected to determine if heart abnormalities are contributing to your condition.
- Imaging tests. Imaging can be used to assess if there are any structural abnormalities in your heart that may be contributing to your condition. Possible imaging tests can include echocardiogram, CT scan, and MRI scan.
- Laboratory tests. Your doctor may order blood tests to determine if your condition is caused by something such as an electrolyte imbalance or thyroid disease.
Once a diagnosis is made, your doctor will work with you to develop a plan to treat and manage your condition.
Depending on the findings from the diagnostic tests, your doctor may refer you to a cardiologist. A cardiologist specializes in treating and preventing diseases of the heart and circulatory system.
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Blood Pressure And Heart Rate Have Normal Target Numbers
False: There are guidelines, but whats normal varies from person to person.
Optimal blood pressure typically is defined as 120 mm Hg systolic which is the pressure as your heart beats over 80 mm Hg diastolic which is the pressure as your heart relaxes. For your resting heart rate, the target is between 60 and 100 beats per minute .
Keep in mind that heart rate and blood pressure are a customized fit. You need to work with your doctor to establish a baseline thats normal for you.
Blood Pressure And Heart Rate Are Always Linked
False: It is true that blood pressure and heart rate often rise and fall together, Dr. Laffin says. When you face danger, for example, your blood pressure and pulse may both jump upward at the same time. However, if your heart rate rises, that doesnt automatically mean your blood pressure will rise or vice versa.
When the two are disconnected, you may be looking at a specific problem, Dr. Laffin says. For example, if you are dehydrated, bleeding or have a severe infection, blood pressure typically decreases and heart rate increases.
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The Faster The Heart Rate The Shorter The Lifespan
True: In a large study of people going for a health checkup in China, those who had a high-normal resting heart rate of 80 bpm to 90 BPM had a 40 percent shorter lifespan than those with a desirable heart rate of 60 BPM to 69 BPM.
However, the good news is that 15 minutes to 30 minutes of daily moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, could eliminate the increased mortality and reverse the life-span loss, the researchers say.
The study underlines the important role that physical activity can play in keeping your heart healthy and giving you a longer life, Dr. Laffin says.
Even moderate activity has benefits, he says. So there is no longer any reason to stay on the couch.
Serious Symptoms That Might Indicate A Life
A rapid heartbeat may occur with other symptoms that can indicate a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care if you, or someone you are with, have a rapid heartbeat associated with any of the following symptoms:
- Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
- Change in mental status or sudden behavior change, such as , delirium, , or delusions
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Dehydration In The Elderly
As with infants and children, elderly people are also at higher risk for dehydration. Some elderly people can become chronically dehydrated if they take certain medications . They can also metabolically have a diminished sense of thirst or physically have a difficult time getting a glass of water.
Signs of dehydration you should look for in the elderly include low blood pressure, confusion, dizziness and constipation. Urinary tract infections, which are common in older adults, can also cause dehydration. If symptoms become severe, make sure you take your elderly relative to the emergency room.
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Why Foods Cause Heart Palpitations
Feeling palpitations after eating is a relatively common experience, which tends to occur when a substance in your food or drinkor your bodys natural biochemical response to that substancejolts the hearts electrical system and causes fluttering sensations, skipped beats, or a feeling that your heart is beating too hard or too fast.
Coffee drinkers, think about the last time you drank one cup too many. You know what I mean!
If your heart is healthy and you have no history of arrhythmia or heart diseaseand youre not experiencing any other symptomstheres little need to worry about an occasional episode of these irregular beats. For people who do have arrhythmias or cardiac issues, however, its a different story. Palpitations caused by food can cause an existing disruption in your hearts rhythm to escalate, and potentially lead to a major event.
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What To Do If Foods Cause You Heart Palpitations
First off, take note if you feel any additional symptoms, because those could signal that youre experiencing more than simple palpitations. Seek emergency medical help if at any point you also have:
- Shortness of breath
- Pain or discomfort in the upper back, arms, neck, or jaw
- Feeling of impending doom
If its the first time youve ever noticed heart palpitations, make a follow-up appointment with your doctor. Its likely nothing is wrong, but its always best to err on the side of caution and make sure that the food-related episode isnt the first sign of a bigger issue.
Next, start a log and record times when the palpitations recur. Note what you ate or drank and what sort of emotional state you were in. If specific foods or beverages tend to cause recurrences, take that as a sign you should reduce or eliminate those foods from your diet. Your body and your heart couldnt be telling you any more clearly that those substances are doing you harm.
Fluids Matter To The Heart
Dehydration causes your blood volumethe amount of blood circulating throughout your bodyto decrease. As a result, sodium levels in the blood increases, thickening the blood and making it harder for it to circulate. In turn, this taxes your heart muscles even more. The result: Your heart rate rises and blood pressure may drop. Its amazing, because you can actually see on an echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart, if someones dehydrated, Dr. Steinbaum says.
In someone with heart issues, including intermittent cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, dehydration can cause changes in heart function as well. Significant shifts in fluid levels in the heart chambers can theoretically trigger the rhythm disturbance, although this is rare, says Alon Gitig, M.D., a cardiologist and director of cardiology at Mount Sinai Doctors Westchester and assistant professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Dr. Gitig says avoiding dehydration is most important for cardiac patients with a tendency toward low blood pressure. Many medications commonly used in management of congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, or arrhythmias have the potential to lower blood pressure, he explains. This effect is exacerbated if the arteries and veins are circulating less blood volume.
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Are Drugs That Increase Heart Rate Dangerous
In younger patients without any medical issues like heart disease or high blood pressure, mild elevations in heart rate related to medications would not likely cause any problems,says Jeffrey Landsman, MD, a primary care provider at Mercy Personal Physicians in Lutherville, Maryland.
In older patients or patients with significant underlying conditions, a rapid heartbeat may be a concern, Dr. Landsman adds.
Some symptoms of a dangerously high heart rate include:
- Fainting
- Chest pressure, tightness or pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
In extreme cases, a dangerously high heart rate can lead to unconsciousness or cardiac arrest.
Heart rates that are too high may decrease your hearts ability to effectively deliver blood and oxygen to the body, says Aaron Emmel, Pharm.D., founder ofPharmacy Tech Scholar. They can also cause an irregular heart rhythm, which is a medical emergency. Shortness of breath, lightheadedness, palpitations, chest pain, or fainting would all be serious signs that warrant medical attention.