What To Do For Heart Palpitations

What Can I Do To Prevent Palpitations

Depending on the cause of your palpitations, these tips can help you have them less often:

• Reduce your stress level or biofeedback techniques.
• Avoid or limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
• Avoid or limit the amount of caffeine in your diet.
• Do not smoke or use tobacco/nicotine products
• Exercise on a regular basis .
• Avoid foods and activities that trigger palpitations.
• Control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

What To Do If Youre Having Heart Palpitations At Night

Heart palpitations can be a scary experience for anyone, especially if youre in good health otherwise and have never had them before. And if you dont normally experience them but are having heart palpitations at night, youre likely losing one or more restful nights of sleep. So whats going on?

This post will dive into what heart palpitations are, what can cause them, and how you can seek treatment for them.

When To Seek Help

Talk with your doctor if you notice your heart rate is faster than normal. Doctors cannot always pinpoint the cause of heart palpitations. They will need to rule out heart rhythm disorders like tachycardia and other medical conditions like hyperthyroidism.

There is typically little risk of complications with heart palpitations unless theyre caused by an underlying heart condition. If theyre caused by a heart condition, you may experience:

• fainting if your heart beats too quickly and causes your blood pressure to drop
• cardiac arrest if your palpitations are caused by arrhythmias and your heart isnt beating efficiently
• stroke if your palpitations are caused by atrial fibrillation
• heart failure if your heart isnt pumping well for a long period of time

Speak with your doctor if you have palpitations with any other symptoms or if you have other concerns about your health.

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Are Premature Ventricular Contractions Life Threatening

If someone has normal heart function and no evidence of structural heart disease, the PVCs are a nuisance, but benign. If the PVCs are so symptomatic as to be disruptive, try eliminating all of the factors such as caffeine, certain foods, stress, before considering any treatment with medications. When we do treat with medications, we usually try to use simple medications such as beta-blockers first before going on to specific anti-arrhythmic agents. Very frequently, this is enough to improve patients’ symptoms.

High Blood Pressure Chart

The chart below shows measures for normal and high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association .

Doctors measure blood pressure in millimeters of mercury .

Systolic pressure measures the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and is the top number on a blood pressure reading. Diastolic, which is the lower number, represents the blood pressure when the heart is resting between beats.

Systolic

• congenital conditions, such as Cushings syndrome, acromegaly, or pheochromocytoma

Sometimes, there is no apparent cause. In this case, a doctor will diagnose primary hypertension.

Consuming a high fat diet, carrying excess weight, drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking tobacco, and the use of some medications also increase the risk.

Treatment will depend on several factors, including:

• how high the blood pressure is
• the risk of cardiovascular disease or a stroke

The doctor will recommend different treatments as blood pressure increases. For slightly high blood pressure, they may suggest making lifestyle changes and monitoring the blood pressure.

If blood pressure is high, they will recommend medication. The options may change over time, according to how severe the hypertension is and whether complications arise, such as kidney disease. Some people may need a combination of several different medications.

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Why Do I Only Get Heart Palpitations At Night

Heart palpitations at night occur when you get the feeling of a strong pulse in your chest, neck, or head after you lay down to sleep. Its important to note that while these may be unsettling, theyre usually normal and arent typically a sign of anything more serious.

If you sleep on your side, you may be more susceptible to heart palpitations at night due to the way your body bends and pressure builds up internally.

The most common form of palpitation unrelated to your heart occurs when bending over, as theres an increase in abdominal pressure that then transports to your esophagus, which is located behind the left atrium of your heart.

Another factor to consider when experiencing palpitations at night is that they may be occurring throughout the day, but youre only noticing them at night due to lower noise levels and reduced distractions as you lie in bed.

The symptoms of heart palpitations can be concerning if theyre unexpected or you havent experienced them before. Symptoms include:

• the feeling of an irregular pulse or that your heart stopped briefly
• a sensation of fluttering in your chest
• a fast or pounding heart rate

Short and infrequent palpitations at night are generally not a cause for alarm. According to the Mayo Clinic, theyre usually harmless.

However, you should seek immediate medical attention if you experience heart palpitations along with any of the following symptoms:

What You Can Do In The Meantime

Before your appointment, you can try to improve your symptoms by avoiding activities or stresses that might cause your palpitations. Some common triggers include:

• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Too much caffeine or alcohol
• Use of medications or supplements that contain stimulants, such as energy drinks or some cold medicines

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Continuous Social And Economic Pressure

Having limited financial means or belonging to a marginalized or persecuted ethnic group can increase the risk of mental health disorders.

A 2015 study of 903 families in Iran identified several socioeconomic causes of mental health conditions, including poverty and living on the outskirts of a large city.

The researchers also explained the difference in the availability and quality of mental health treatment for certain groups in terms of modifiable factors, which can change over time, and nonmodifiable factors, which are permanent.

Modifiable factors for mental health disorders include:

• socioeconomic conditions, such whether work is available in the local area
• occupation

• age
• ethnicity

The study lists gender as both a modifiable and nonmodifiable factor. The researchers found that being female increased the risk of low mental health status by 3.96 times.

People with a weak economic status also scored highest for mental health conditions in this study.

What Can Cause Heart Palpitations

“It’s not uncommon for people to get palpitations during vigorous exercise,” explains Martin. “Or when they’re feeling anxious or stressed.

“Other triggers might include alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, certain medications and recreational drugs.”

In addition, palpitations in women might be caused by hormonal fluctuations experienced during periods, pregnancy or during menopause. Some medications, including the asthma inhaler salbutamol, can also lead to palpitations, especially if you take a large amount.

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Interesting Heart Palpitations Causes And Treatment For A Case Of The Heart Flutters

Does your heart unexpectedly start to race or pound, or feel like it keeps skipping beats? These sensations are called heart palpitations. For most people, heart palpitations are a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence. Others have dozens of these heart flutters a day, sometimes so strong that they feel like a heart attack.

Most palpitations are caused by a harmless hiccup in the heart’s rhythm. A few reflect a problem in the heart or elsewhere in the body.

When To Go To The Emergency Department For Heart Palpitations

by Jeffrey Dubin, MD, Chief Medical OfficerMay 29, 2017

Most people barely notice their hearts beating. And thats natural. But any noticeable change in the heartbeat should be concerning. Heart palpitations can be a sign of a serious condition, but some heart palpitations are totally normal.

I describe the feeling of heart palpitations as the heart-pounding sensation you get after running up a flight of stairs. But for people with heart palpitations, that feeling could just show up while theyre sitting on the couch.

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Can Something I Eat Or Drink Cause Heart Palpitations

A common substance associated with palpitations is caffeine. Some people are sensitive to any amount of stimulant, but we began to see more caffeine-related palpitations when espresso-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes became popular in the 1990s. Frequently reducing or eliminating beverages that contain caffeine such as coffee or soda can improve palpitations.

Some patients complain of palpitations when they eat too much chocolate, and some patients respond with palpitations around the holiday when they tend to drink too much alcohol.

Some over-the-counter medications such as cold and allergy remedies that contain decongestants often can precipitate palpitations.

Frequently, palpitations occur without any obvious precipitating factor, although fatigue, stress, and lack of sleep also cause palpitations to occur or worsen.

When To See A Doctor

Nearly everyone will experience heart palpitations at some point. A majority of the time, theyll be completely benign . Other times, it could be your heart trying to tell you that somethings wrong.

You should call your doctor if your heart palpitations last longer than a few seconds at a time or occur frequently.

If youre healthy, you dont need to worry about brief heart palpitations that only happen every now and then. That being said, its still a good idea to monitor your palpitations and keep track of how often they happen and how long they last. They when, when you do visit your doctor, it will be easier for them to make an accurate diagnosis.When to Call an Ambulance

If a persons heart palpitations are accompanied by:

• Loss of consciousness

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How Are Palpitations Treated

The best type of treatment for you depends on what causes your palpitations. You may not need any treatment. If the palpitations are related to certain foods, you should avoid those triggers. If you have heart disease or an abnormal heart rhythm, you may need medication, a procedure, surgery or a device to correct the problem. It is important to keep all follow-up appointments with your doctor.

If your palpitations get worse or suddenly happen more often, call your doctor.

Continue Reading How To Stop Heart Palpitations

This is the brain chemical that makes you feel tired. It also triggers your adrenaline. This can make your heart go crazy. As a result, your stress will only worsen.

Try your best to change your sleeping habits. This way you wont be as tired when you wake up in the morning. If youre less tired, your urge to drink coffee wont be as persistent. When youre looking for a drink to have in the morning, try this instead

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Drink More Water

To reduce palpitations, its important to stay hydrated. When you havent had enough water, your heart needs to work much harder to pump blood. This can cause the heart to palpitate.

Your blood also becomes thicker when you are not drinking water. This makes it more difficult for blood to travel through your veins. As a result, your pulse rate increases and contributes to heart palpitations.

So how much should you drink a day? Well, expert suggestions vary. The most commonly recommended amount is around 8 glasses. This includes a glass after waking up, as well as one before bed.

There are other signs of dehydration besides heart palpitations. These include dark urine, extreme thirst, headache, and dry skin.

If you have any of these symptoms, grab yourself a cool glass on H2O. Do you find this article interesting so far? Dont forget to share this with your friends.

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Stop Any Exercise Until A Doctor Approves

Heart palpitations are seldom life-threatening, but this does not mean they should be taken lightly. Some heart palpitations can indicate defects or abnormalities in the valves or ventricles of the heart. Increased heart rate and blood flow can exacerbate these issues and create heart attacks. Whenever an individual experiences heart palpitations, they should immediately halt any exercise or strenuous physical activity that can increase their heart rate. These types of activities also include sexual activity or entertainment pursuits that can get the heart beating more quickly.

Reveal why individuals dealing with heart palpitations might need to stop consuming caffeine now.

What Are Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations can feel like a skip or a stutter. Sometimes, it feels like your heart is racing up or slowing down for no reason. Typically, they last just a few seconds.

And in many cases, theyre nothing to worry about. But they might be a sign of an arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm. Arrhythmias are often caused by heart disease, heart valve problems, abnormal potassium levels or other issues.

If youre having palpitations frequently, or the sensation lasts more than a few seconds, its a good idea to get checked out, says Dr. Wazni.

And head to the emergency room if the palpitations come with other heart symptoms, such as:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness.

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Cleveland Clinic Heart Vascular & Thoracic Institute Cardiologists And Surgeons

Choosing a doctor to treat your abnormal heart rhythm depends on where you are in your diagnosis and treatment. The following Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute Sections and Departments treat patients with Arrhythmias:

• Section of Electrophysiology and Pacing: cardiology evaluation for medical management or electrophysiology procedures or devices – Call Cardiology Appointments at toll-free 800.223.2273, extension 4-6697 or request an appointment online.
• Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: surgery evaluation for surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation, epicardial lead placement, and in some cases if necessary, lead and device implantation and removal. For more information, please contact us.
• You may also use our MyConsult second opinion consultation using the Internet.

The Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute has specialized centers to treat certain populations of patients:

Foods High In Carbohydrates And Sugar

If you have low blood sugar , foods high in processed sugars and carbohydrates can trigger heart palpitations. These foods can force your blood sugar levels to spike, and wild swings in your blood sugar levels may increase the likelihood of experiencing palpitations. For this reason, its important to be mindful of your carb and sugar consumption if youre hypoglycemic.

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How Do You Pinpoint The Cause Of Your Palpitations

Are these palpitations harmless or a cause for concern? A question which undoubtedly is frequently on your mind, but also one that often proves frustrating for doctors. Especially as the problem with palpitations is their temporary nature. You can feel them on a daily or weekly basis, or sometimes just once every month or so. Sometimes for hours on end, sometimes for just a few seconds.

This unpredictability means catching them when they are occurring is terribly difficult. There is a good chance that you will not have any symptoms when you are being examined.1 Whereas there is scientific evidence that recording your cardiac activity duringsymptoms offers the best chances of the right diagnosis.1 In 76% of cases, this immediately tells doctors what needs to be done.2

Without palpitations occurring during your examination, the real causes can go undetected sometimes even for years.2Without a clear cause there is no treatment.

The biggest difficulty is to try and work out whether the palpitation is because of something else or whether its an intrinsic heart rhythm problem.

Dr Sanjay Gupta, Cardiologist

The upshot? You are left feeling uncomfortable and concerned. Wondering if what you are feeling are actually palpitations. And is what you are feeling harmless or not? How do you stop yourself from lying awake at night worrying next time you experience these symptoms?

Stop Smoking Or Take A Break

Quitting smoking or not smoking at all is one of the most significant lifestyle choices individuals can make for their overall health. Smoking can cause a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular issues, including heart palpitations. The nicotine in tobacco is a stimulant and can increase an individual’s heartbeat or even lead to heart palpitations. Some individuals, likewise, experience heart palpitations after smoking other substances. When smokers experience heart palpitations, putting the cigarettes down for a few days can help determine if smoking is the cause or if other issues might be present.

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What Does It Feel Like

People living with arrhythmias may experience a wide range of symptoms. They also may not feel anything at all.

According to the American Heart Association , arrhythmias can feel like a fluttering sensation or a single skipped beat according to the type. If the arrhythmia starts to affect how well the heart works, it can lead to serious symptoms, such as:

The main cause of heart arrhythmia involves changes to the electrical signals that control the heart or changes to the tissues in the heart.

According to the , damage from illness, genetics, or injury is the most common direct cause. Some factors that can cause the condition include:

• changes to the hearts anatomy
• return of blood flow following a heart attack
• stress, anger, pain, or other events can cause the heart to beat irregularly
• certain medications, such as those for high blood pressure, depression, or over-the-counter cold and allergy medications
• disruption of electrical signals to the heart
• deficiencies or excessive amount of electrolytes, hormones, or fluids in the blood

, the four most common types include the below.

When To Contact A Doctor

A person should call 911 if they experience a tightening or pressure on their chest. This could be a sign of a heart attack that needs immediate attention.

An individual needs to speak with their doctor if they experience symptoms that may indicate an irregular heartbeat. A healthcare professional may help diagnose and treat the issue.

In some cases, a doctor may recommend starting or changing medication.

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