Heart Palpitations

My father has problems with heart palpitations for some time now. He is 47 and his mother died from heart attack. However, his doctor told him that his condition is related to anxiety. We are all concerned about him. What are these palpitations and will my father be ok?

It is normal that you are concerned about your father. The fact that you lost your grandmother due to a heart attack is not a calming factor when it comes to your father. As long as he is monitored by his doctor, I am sure that you father will be ok. Palpitations are heartbeat sensations that feel like pounding or racing and they are often not serious. The heart's rhythm may be normal or abnormal and palpitations can be felt in chest, throat or neck. If they are serious or not depends on whether or not the sensations represent an abnormal heart rhythm, called an arrhythmia. Heart Palpitations can be caused by: exercise, anxiety or stress, fever, nicotine, cocaine, diet pills, anemia, overactive thyroid, hyperventilaion, some medications etc. Reducing stress and anxiety can help your father lessen heart palpitations. He should try breathing exercises or deep relaxation. Deep relaxation is a step-by-step process of tensing and then relaxing every muscle group in the body at the time of the heartbeat sensations. He could also consider practicing yoga or tai chi on a regular basis. This can help him reduce the frequency of heart palpitations.