What Makes Your Heart Skip A Beat?
What exactly are heart palpitations?
A heart palpitation occurs when a person becomes aware of their heartbeat, which may be excessively fast, too slow, or irregular. Because the heart automatically pumps blood, people are frequently oblivious to individual beats.
This pumping permits blood to flow throughout the body, carrying oxygen and other vital components with it. The heart has four chambers that are connected by one-way valves.
Each heartbeat is indeed a pumping activity that takes place in two stages:
Part 1: As blood accumulates within your upper two chambers, an electrical signal induces a contraction, causing blood to flow to the lower chambers.
Part 2: One side of your heart pumps blood to the lungs, where it is then oxygenated, while the other side distributes oxygenated blood throughout the body.
What are the most prevalent signs and symptoms?
Heart palpitations can occur at any moment, but they are most common during times of stress. These odd sensations may occur in your chest, neck, or throat. The symptoms of heart palpitations range from person to person. The most prevalent symptoms for many people are to feel as if their heartbeats skip, flutter, and beat too quickly, or thump more vigorously than usual.
A slight irregular heartbeat can be caused by a number of factors. These are frequently encountered:
when pregnant, after menopause, when you’re congested when you’re under extreme stress, have anxiety, or when lying down, when sneezing, during a headache, after eating, exercising, excessive, alcohol consumption, caffeine consumption, after Covid 19, when you’re emotionally exhausted, etc.
You may just have one episode in your life, or you may get palpitations on a daily basis. Most episodes will resolve on their own, even if no therapy is given.
What is it that causes your heart to miss a beat?
Sometimes the cause of heart palpitations is unknown. These innocuous cardiac hiccups can occur without warning from time to time.
Nonetheless, certain frequent reasons for heart palpitations can be identified. The causes are classified into two groups: non-heart-related causes and heart-related causes.
- Causes other than heart disease:
While a little heart flutter can happen to anyone, persons who are stressed or anxious are more likely to experience palpitations. The following are the principal non-heart-related causes:
heightened emotional states, such as stress or anxiety disorders, too much coffee, alcohol, or nicotine use usage of illegal substances such as cocaine, amphetamines, and heroin hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, menopause, or menstruation. Some herbal or nutritional vitamins or supplements, certain rigorous physical activity, some herbal or nutritional vitamins or supplements, and some types of medications, including diet tablets, decongestants, cough and cold treatments, and asthma inhalers with stimulants, can cause them. However, fever, dehydration, and abnormal electrolyte levels are examples of illnesses or ailments. Medical disorders such as hypoglycemia, hypotension, and thyroid illness, as also food allergies or sensitivities can be a reason.
- Lifestyle factors:
Strenuous exercise, dehydration, a lack of sleep, or excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption can all cause heart palpitations. Tobacco usage, as well as the use of illegal drugs such as cocaine or stimulants such as Sudafed, can cause the heart to skip a beat.
- Emotional or psychological triggers
Heart palpitations can be caused by strong emotions such as stress or anxiety.
These could also happen during a panic attack. Some signs of a panic attack are:
nausea, dizziness, and numbness in the extremities, trembling, and shortness of breath are symptoms of chest pain or tightness.
- Medicine
Certain medications might cause heart palpitations. These are some examples:
- Asthma medicines
- high blood pressure meds
- antihistamines
- Antibiotics, antidepressants, and antifungal medication
Anybody who experiences frequent heart palpitations and is taking medicine should read the label for a list of possible adverse effects. Before discontinuing any drug, a person should consult with a doctor. Heart palpitations may be an innocuous side effect, but it is best to be cautious.
- Changes in Hormones
Periods, pregnancy, and menopause can all result in hormonal changes that can induce heart palpitations.
Heart palpitations can also be caused by an overactive thyroid.
- Heart arrhythmias
Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats caused by abnormalities in the normal pattern of electrical impulses from the heart. Some arrhythmias are harmless, while others can be dangerous and necessitate medical treatment.
Arrhythmias include the following:
- Atrial fibrillation: A fast, irregular heartbeat that raises the risk of stroke.
- Bradycardia is characterized by a sluggish heart rate.
- Tachycardia is characterized by a rapid heart rate.
- Supraventricular tachycardia: A fast heartbeat that can make you dizzy.
- Ventricular tachycardia: A potentially fatal disorder characterized by a fast, regular heart rhythm and, in some cases, dizziness or blackouts.
- Additional medical issues
Palpitations can also be caused by the following conditions:
- anemia
- Low blood sugar levels are referred to as hypoglycemia.
- blood pressure that is too low
- electrolyte imbalances
- Thyroid storm
- Heart problems
Palpitations can suggest heart issues in some circumstances. Here are several examples:
- Mitral valve prolapse: A condition in which blood flows inefficiently through the heart.
- Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to adequately pump blood and the heart chambers widen.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A condition characterized by an expansion of the heart muscle and its walls.
- Congenital heart disease: Refers to birth defects in the heart.
Is it necessary to dial 911?
Whether you have shortness of breath, intense chest discomfort, heavy perspiration, dizziness, or you feel like you’re going to pass out, the answer is yes. You could be suffering from a heart attack.
You should not drive yourself to the hospital. Allow an ambulance to come to you. As soon as paramedics arrive, they can begin treatment. You will receive assistance sooner than if you go to the ER on your own.
Is it necessary for you to see a doctor?
Sure, if your pulse rate is greater than 100 beats per minute, you haven’t been exercising, and you don’t have a fever.
Yeah, if you’ve got:
- Palpitations that occur in groups of three or more, or if they occur repeatedly
- You are at risk for heart disease if you have high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
- Palpitations that are new or distinct
How Can You Determine the Root Cause?
Make a list of what happened before your palpitations started. Take notes to your doctor’s appointment. Heart Palpitations Treatment
Unless your doctor discovers another cardiac disease, they are unlikely to recommend treatment for your heart palpitations.
If your symptoms or condition require treatment, your doctor will most likely try one of the following methods:
- Antiarrhythmic medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers are a good place to start. Some medications do not always function as well. Stronger antiarrhythmic medications that directly act on the sodium and potassium channels of the heart may be required.
- Catheter ablation: During this procedure, your doctor will insert thin wires into your leg veins and into your heart. This will induce an arrhythmia, and your doctor will locate the source of the arrhythmia and send energy to cause scars and stop the erratic heartbeat.
- Electrical cardioversion: The doctor shocks your heart to restore its normal rhythm. Doctors may advise you to have an electrocardiogram (also called an EKG). This test measures the electrical activity and rhythm of your heart. This information can assist your doctor in determining what is wrong.
Having extra, early beats are rarely hazardous, although it can be aggravating. It has an impact on some people’s quality of life. Nevertheless, once you understand what causes it, you can take action to address it and feel better.
Prevent triggers by making lifestyle modifications:
Look for techniques to minimize your worry if it is caused by anxiety or stress. Meditation, journaling, yoga, and tai chi are examples of such activities. If these strategies aren’t adequate, talk with your doctor to locate a prescription that can alleviate anxious symptoms.
- Eliminate harmful foods and drugs.
Palpitations can be caused by drugs, treatments, and even foods. If you find a substance that is producing palpitations or allergies in your diet, try to eliminate it.
Cigarette smoking, for example, can cause palpitations. If you notice that you have more heart palpitations when you smoke, stop smoking for a while and observe if the sensation goes away.
- Take good care of your physique.
Keep hydrated, eat healthily, and exercise on a regular basis. These aspects of a healthy lifestyle can also lower your chances of experiencing heart palpitations.
- Reduce your stress.
Try relaxing methods like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing.
- Stimulants should be avoided.
An irregular heartbeat can be caused by caffeine, nicotine, certain cold drugs, and even energy drinks.
- Don’t experiment with illegal drugs.
Cocaine and amphetamines, for example, can cause palpitations.
- Discover a treatment that is specific to the cause.
If your palpitations are caused by a condition or disease, your doctor will work with you to identify a suitable treatment. Medication, catheter ablation, or electrical cardioversion are examples of therapy methods.
