Have you ever felt, when you are just standing or when you are going to sleep at night, your chest suddenly starts pounding? Or have you ever felt a strange feeling like your heart has suddenly stopped beating, like it has skipped a beat, or like a butterfly is flying inside your chest? This is a somewhat frightening experience that many people experience. Today we are talking about this heart palpitations, which in medical terms is ``Heart Palpitations''.
Simply put, what does this heart beat mean?
Palpitations, or palpitations, are the sensations that make you feel your heart beating faster, faster, or more irregularly. You may feel this sensation in your chest, throat, or neck.
Imagine, this can happen when you are just sitting in a chair or doing a normal task. It is normal to feel a little startled and scared when you suddenly feel this. But the best thing is, most of the time this heart palpitations are not serious. However, in rare cases, this can be due to an abnormality in the heart rhythm (arrhythmia), so it is very important to be aware of it.
Who is most affected by this situation?
Actually, this heart palpitations can happen to anyone, but surveys have found that it is slightly more common among women.
This can occur at different times in life. For example:
- As a teenager
- During pregnancy
- During menopause
It is so common that it has been found that about 16% of people who visit their family doctor do so because of this heart palpitations problem. It is also the main reason for seeing cardiologists.
What emotions might you be feeling?
When your heart beats, you can feel a variety of emotions. Let's see what they are.
| Feeling | To explain simply: |
|---|---|
| Heart racing | It feels like your heart is beating fast and hard, like when you come running. |
| Pounding | Every beat of the heart feels as loud as if it is pounding on the chest. |
| Missing a beat | It feels like your heart is beating, suddenly stopping for a moment, and then starting to beat again. |
| Like having an extra beat | Feeling as if there is suddenly an extra beat in addition to the normal rhythm. |
| Flip-flopping | A strange feeling, like my heart is spinning inside my chest. |
| Like a butterfly fluttering (Fluttering) | Feeling a very subtle, rapid throbbing sensation inside the chest. |
Remember, if you already have heart disease, are at high risk of developing heart disease, or have heart valve problems, this type of heart palpitations is more likely to be serious. So people like that need to be especially careful about this.
Why does the heart beat like this? What are the reasons?
There are many things that can cause heart palpitations. Some are very simple, while others require a little more attention.
| Reason category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Psychological causes and lifestyle | Feelings like anxiety, stress, fear, panic. Excessive exercise, nicotine, and alcohol use. |
| Food and drink | Things that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and some soft drinks. Spicy, oily foods. |
| Medical conditions | Overactive thyroid, anemia, fever, dehydration, low blood sugar or potassium levels, pregnancy. |
| Medicines and other substances | Some inhalers for asthma, some beta-blockers for high blood pressure, thyroid medication, some cough/cold medications, and some herbal and nutritional supplements. |
At what times do you feel this most?
- When you are anxious: When you feel afraid or anxious, your body prepares for "fight or flight." It is normal for your heart rate to increase.
- After eating: Some people may experience this after eating spicy, oily food, or drinking coffee.
- When you go to bed at night: You may not notice this with the hustle and bustle of the day. But when you are quiet at night, even a small heartbeat can be felt very strongly.
- When lying on your side: This can also happen due to the pressure on your body when some people sleep on their side.
- During pregnancy: When a baby is due, the mother's blood volume increases and the heart has to work harder. Therefore, palpitations are normal during this time, and in most cases, they are not harmful.
If you feel like your heart is racing all day, that's not normal. If you feel that way, definitely see your doctor for advice.
How does a doctor find this?
When you go to see a doctor, he will first listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope. In addition, he will ask you about:
- Your complete medical history
- Symptoms you are experiencing
- Your diet
- Medications and herbal products you take
It is very important to clearly explain this information to the doctor:
- When and how often does this happen?
- How long has it been since you last came?
- How do you feel when this happens? (Dizziness, chest pain, etc.)
- What were you doing when this started?
- Does it decrease when you do something?
Maybe when you go to the doctor, you lose this heartbeat. Then the doctor will tell you to tap the rhythm with your fingers and show it.
Tests if necessary
If a problem is suspected, the doctor may recommend several tests, such as:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
- Stress test
- An ultrasound scan of the heart (Echocardiogram)
- A Holter monitor is a device worn for 24 hours or more to record heart activity.
- An electrophysiology study
- Cardiac catheterization
You may also need to see a doctor who specializes in heart rhythm abnormalities, called an electrophysiologist.
What can we do to prevent this?
The best thing is, most of the time it doesn't require any special treatment. The best thing to do is to find out what the cause is and stay away from it.
- Reduce stress: Calm your mind with things like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol: Reduce the amount of coffee, tea, and alcohol you drink, or even stop altogether.
- Avoid smoking: Stay away from tobacco and all things that contain nicotine.
- Exercise regularly: But before you start exercising, ask your doctor what exercises are right for you.
- Avoid triggers: Find out what foods or activities trigger your symptoms and avoid them.
- Control blood pressure and cholesterol: Controlling these is very important for overall heart health.
When should you be concerned about this? When to see a doctor immediately!
This is the most important part. While palpitations are usually not serious, if they are accompanied by the symptoms below, it could be a sign of a serious condition.
| Emergencies - If you have these symptoms, go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately! | |
|---|---|
| Passing out | If you lose consciousness with a heartbeat. |
| Severe chest pain or pressure | A feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest. This pain spreads to the neck, jaw, arms, or upper back. |
| Trouble breathing | If you have difficulty breathing or feel suffocated. |
| If you have these symptoms, see your doctor. | |
| Dizziness or feeling light-headed | If you feel dizzy with your heart beating, and things around you seem blurry. |
| Unusual sweating | If you sweat excessively for no particular reason. |
| The situation is getting worse. | If your heart rate is getting higher and higher, or if it has started to come more frequently. |
Take-Home Message
- Heart palpitations are very common. In most cases, they are not a serious condition.
- Stress, anxiety, caffeine, alcohol, and some medications can be the main causes of this.
- You can control this condition by making simple changes to your lifestyle and eating habits.
- If your heart palpitations are accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or loss of consciousness , it could be a serious condition. In such cases, seek medical advice immediately.
- If you have even the slightest doubt or fear about this, never think twice about talking to your doctor about it.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න