Palpitations – what are they?
When doctors talk about palpitations, we simply mean being aware of your own heartbeat. ‘arrhythmias’ are any kind of abnormal heart rhythm. Even these are often not serious – but it’s always worth getting any new change in your heart rate checked out quickly.
You should look out for:
Sudden onset of very fast palpitations (more than about 150 beats every minute).Irregular heartbeat. This can be caused by a condition called atrial fibrillation, where the natural pulses of electricity which make your heart beat regularly, are disrupted.Feeling breathless, sweaty or dizzy. This often happens when your heart is racing because of stress. However, it can be a sign that your heart isn’t pumping blood properly, leaving your body short of oxygen. It can sometimes signal a heart attack.Do you get short of breath when you lie flat or exert yourself, or have swelling of your ankles? This may mean that fluid is building up in your system because your heart isn’t pumping efficientlyChest pain. This can often happen if you’re having an anxiety attack. However, it always needs checking out.
What’s the treatment?
This will very much depend on the cause. Often medicines will be able to control your symptoms effectively and safely, even if an abnormal heart rhythm is the cause. Rarely, abnormal heart rhythms need to be treated with a pacemaker. If anxiety or excess caffeine are at the root of your problem, you’ll need to manage these.
I hope this helped.
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This sounds exactly like me. 24/7. Have you found any answers, or do you have an update for us?
My husband had a few flutters ever now and then. Then, about a year ago he told me had a hard single pounding in his chest. He stated to me it took him by surprise but did not hurt just a strange hard hit feeling in the chest. This was at rest sitting upright in a chair watching tv. About 5-6 months later he had it another time. This time, he hadn't been feeling quite right for a couple weeks. Kept telling me he felt like he was dying. I had to force him to go to the doctor who ran some chest xrays and blood work. Said he had a upper respiratory infection and gave him antibiotics. He did start feeling better within a few days of taking the meds. Then, he got up to go to the restroom when he looked at me strangely and fell hard to the floor. His lips were a grayish blue color and his face was bright red. I called 911. He had a major heart attack! After the fact, he remembered having that same single and hard pound like beat in his chest before passing out. He had been through several tests prior to this heart attack and NOTHING showed any issues. I BEG anyone that is having this to push your physician to check everything even if it seems silly. My husband almost died because of this! It is not anything to play around with and nor do I believe it to be nothing! See a cardiologist!
Id like to share my story so others know they r not alone. I started having palptations in the winter of 2014. I woke up from my deep sleep because of pressure in my stomach... Then my heart would pump very hard for like 2 mnts. It was very scary the first couple of times. I went to ER twice but they found nothing. My cardiologist had me wear a heart monitor n i was able to record a few episodes of terror. The cardiologist explained that my heart pulse seems completely normal! The palpitations are a reaction of a normal heart to some abnormal something in the body, according to my cardio. I also had skipped beats or irregular strong beats. My blood work was fine.
I met a therapist and she thought i was stressed out and that was the underlaying cause of my anxiety, which was a result of the fight or flight hormones.
I made lifestyle changes to cope with the situation. I refused to take any medication. I exercise regularly and eat more natural stuff. I feel that my symptoms have become very mild n i go weeks without any palpitations. I used to have skipped beats n panic attack more than 2 or 3 times a week. Meanwhile i am working on my stress and anxiety on my own n about to start seeing a therapist more regularly. Chagning one's thinking pattern about life's problems and issues is key to recovery from anxiety.
MAGNESIUM. it will cure a lot of problems including strong heart beat