Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations occur in several conditions, such as being stressed or anxious, and in most cases, it’s a normal condition that ends when the cause wears off. However, it could be a symptom of a serious condition in some cases.

Heart palpitations

Heart palpitations are a condition that makes you feel a fast-beating or fluttering heart, or like you’re having an extra beat or missing a beat. Palpitations could occur at any state, even if you’re resting.

Heart palpitations could happen to anyone, but they’re more common in females.

Causes of heart palpitations

• Strenuous physical activity.
• Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy and menopause.
• Emotions, such as anxiety, stress, fear, and panic.
• Stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, recreational drugs, and certain cough medications.
• Certain health conditions, such as anemia, hyperthyroidism, dehydration, hypoglycemia, and heart problems, such as heart arrhythmia and heart structure problems.
• Fever.
• Depression.
• Low potassium and oxygen in the blood.
• Some supplements and herbs.

Symptoms of heart palpitations

• Fast heartbeat.
• Fluttering heart.
• Flip-flopping.
• Missing a beat or having an extra one.
• You can feel the palpitations in the chest, throat, or neck.

Complications of heart palpitations

• Heart failure.
• Cardiac arrest.
• Fainting.
• Stroke.

Diagnosis of heart palpitations

• Physical examination.
• Medical history.
• Some heart tests.

Treatment of heart palpitations

Usually, heart palpitations don’t require treatment unless the cause is a heart problem.

You can reduce the risk of palpitations by:

• Managing stress.
• Reducing caffeine intake.
• Avoiding smoking and recreational drugs.
• Avoiding the exercise that causes heart palpitations.