Heart Palpitations

Various symptoms of heart palpitations include:

• Skipping beats
• Fluttering rapidly
• Beating too fast
• Pounding
• Flip-flopping

There can be a plethora of causes associated with palpitations. Usually, palpitations are related to the heart, or in some cases, the cause is completely unknown. Below are the points which define what causes heart palpitations: 

• Strong emotions like anxiety, fear, or stress. They also take place in times of panic attacks.
• Strenuous physical activity
• Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or certain illegal drugs like cocaine and amphetamines
• Medical conditions responsible for palpitations include thyroid disease, a low level of blood sugar, anaemia, low level of blood pressure, pyrexia and dehydration.
• Hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, or even before menopause. Sometimes, palpitations during pregnancy are signs of anaemia.
• Medications comprising diet pills, decongestants, asthma inhalers, and other drugs are given to prevent arrhythmias or treat an underactive thyroid
• Some herbal and nutritional supplements
• Abnormal electrolyte levels

You can stop heart palpitations by avoiding the triggers that cause the symptoms.

1. Try To Relax
2. Try Medication or Yoga
3. Take Deep Breathing
4. Avoid Caffeine and energy drinks
5. Avoid Drugs

• Prior heart attack
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart valve problems
• Heart muscle problems
• Heart failure

Heart palpitation is a matter of concern if the patient suffers from the following issues:

• Pain, pressure or tightness around the chest, neck, jaw, arm or upper back.
• Shortness of breath.
• Unusual sweating.
• Symptoms that are new or get worse.

If the doctor reckons that these palpitations are taking place either by arrhythmia or due to some other condition of heart, he will advise certain tests, which include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG). This is a very common and noninvasive test in which the technician places leads around the chest area in order to record the electrical signals constituting the heartbeat.
  An ECG can help to detect problems in the heartbeat and structures of the heart that could give rise to palpitations. The test will be performed either at rest or during exercise, which is called a stress electrocardiogram.

• Holter monitoring. The patient is made to don this portable device in order to record a continuous ECG, usually lasting for about 24 to 72 hours, while the patient is keeping a record of palpitations. Holter monitoring is mainly used to detect those heart palpitations that aren't detected during a regular ECG examination. Nowadays, some portable and personal devices, like smartwatches, do offer ECG monitoring.

• Event recording. If the patient is not having irregular heart rhythms while wearing a Holter monitor or if the frequency of events take place less than once a week, the doctor might suggest an event recorder which is a portable ECG device intended to monitor heart activity lasting from over a week to a few months. The patient wears it all day, but the recording is done only at certain specific times for a few minutes. It is activated by pressing a button when there are symptoms of a quick heart rate.

• Echocardiogram. This non-invasive examination depicts a picture of the heart with the help of sound waves. It can demonstrate blood flow and structure problems with your heart.

This depends on the cause involved. Palpitations are often harmless and slowly subside on their own. Hence no form of treatment is required.
If the doctor doesn't find a suitable cause behind palpitations, then it is advised to evade the things that usually aggravate the palpitations. The strategies often include:

Relieve Anxiety and Stress-Causing Factors.

Avoid a stressful situation and try to be calm and relaxed. Emotions like anxiety, stress, fear, or panic can cause palpitations. Other common ways to stay calm include:

• Relaxation exercises
• Yoga
• Tai chi
• Biofeedback
• Guided imagery

Eliminate Certain Foods, Beverages, and Other Substances. These Comprise of:

• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Caffeine
• Illegitimate drugs

Avoid Medications that Often Behave as Stimulants. It is Advised to Get Rid of:

• Cough and cold medicines
• Certain herbal as well as nutritional supplements

Patients are at a greater risk of developing palpitations if they are:

• Highly tensed
• Having a regular anxiety disorder or panic attacks
• Pregnant
• Medicines that comprise of stimulants like in some cold or asthma medications
• Having an overactive thyroid gland called hyperthyroidism
• Having various other heart issues like an arrhythmia, a heart defect, history of previous heart attack or previous heart surgery

Unless a heart condition is the main cause of heart palpitations, there's very little chance of complications. For palpitations caused due to heart condition, possible complications include:

• Fainting. If the heart beats rapidly, the blood pressure levels can drop significantly, causing the patient to faint. This is seen more commonly if the patient has an ongoing heart problem like congenital heart disease or certain valve issues.

• Cardiac arrest. Very rarely, palpitations can be caused by life-threatening arrhythmias and can cause obstruction in the efficient working of the heart.

• Stroke. If palpitations are present due to a condition in which the upper heart chambers shrink and start shaking instead of functioning effectively (atrial fibrillation), blood can pool and cause the formation of clots. If a clot breaks loose, it can always travel to the brain and block an artery, causing Stroke.

• Heart failure. This can result if the heart is pumping ineffectively for a prolonged period of time due to an arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation. It can be prevented by controlling the rate of arrhythmia, causing heart failure to improve your heart's function.

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