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Heart palpitations is a condition in which the heart beats too fast and irregularly, even the heartbeat can be felt to the chest, neck and throat.
Palpitations can occur in seconds, minutes or even longer for certain health conditions. The causes of heart palpitations can vary from being in love to serious heart disease problems.
Heart rate can indicate your health. Heart rate refers to the frequency at which your heart beats throughout a span of one minute. In general, a normal adult heart will beat between 60 to 100 times per minute. In conditions of palpitations, the heartbeat will be fast or irregular.
Heart palpitations are generally not a serious problem, but you should seek help immediately if the condition is accompanied by other health signs such as chest pain, severe shortness of breath, chest discomfort, dizziness and fainting.
If you experience palpitations, first identify the causes of your palpitations so that they can be treated appropriately.
Causes of heart palpitations
Heart palpitations can occur at any time both during normal activity and rest. In general, this condition can go away on its own without treatment.
However, if you feel that the frequency of heart palpitations is abnormal, this could be a symptom of a health problem that needs to be examined.
Here are some causes of heart palpitations from the most common to specific health conditions:
1. Affection or falling in love
When you fall in love with someone, your heart will beat fast when you remember them. Do you know that the feeling of happiness that causes palpitations is stimulated by three chemicals in the brain.
First, Noradrenaline which stimulates the production of adrenaline which causes the heart to beat fast and palms to sweat. Second, dopamine which makes you feel good. Finally, Phenylethylamine which will give a sensation like there are butterflies in the stomach or flowers when in front of a favorite person.
So if your heart is pounding because of this, you don't need to worry. It's your body's happy reaction.
2. Taking certain medications
Heart palpitations can be a side effect of taking certain types of drugs, such as over-the-counter drugs, stimulants, herbal supplements, diet pills, decongestants and asthma inhalers.
3. Lifestyle
There are several unhealthy lifestyles that cause heart palpitations such as strenuous exercise, smoking, caffeine or alcohol consumption, and lack of sleep.
4. Strenuous exercise and dehydration
Strenuous exercise can make the body dehydrated. The condition of lack of body fluids makes the heart work harder to pump blood to circulate blood containing oxygen throughout the body. This causes the heart to beat faster.
Dehydration can also cause blood to thicken, making the heart work harder.
5. Psychological problems
Some emotional conditions such as stress, anxiety, fear, panic and surprise can cause the heart to beat faster and increase the heart rate. Such conditions are part of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
6. Hormonal changes
Heart palpitations can occur due to hormonal changes both in menstruating, pregnant and menopausal women. For example, in menopause, estrogen levels are unbalanced and change, as well as symptoms of hot flashes that make the heart beat faster.
7. Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a health problem caused by high levels of thyroid hormones in the body. Not only rapid heartbeat but also hypertension that causes clogged heart arteries, stiffness, chest pain and rapid heartbeat.
8. Fever
Fever can make the heart beat faster because it works harder to keep blood circulation smooth.
9. Anemia
Anemia is a medical condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells. Red blood cells, which consist of hemoglobin, are responsible for binding oxygen. When red blood cells are reduced, there is also less oxygen so that the heart pumps harder to get blood containing oxygen. The above conditions cause the heart to beat faster.
10. Heart disease
Heart palpitations are a sign of heart disease such as arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, heart valve disease, heart failure and heart attack.
Arrhythmia, for example, is a condition where the heart beats faster, irregularly or too slowly. In this case, the heart is not functioning properly to pump blood. It must be treated by a doctor immediately as it can be life-threatening.
How to treat heart palpitations
Treatment of heart palpitations depends on the cause. Some go away on their own without having to be treated with special or medical treatment.
If the doctor has done a series of tests to diagnose and no serious illness is found, you will be advised to avoid things that can trigger heart palpitations, for example in the following ways:
- Reduce anxiety and stress which can be done by doing relaxation exercises, yoga. Tai Chi or inhaling aromatherapy.
- Reduce consumption of certain foods, drinks and substances, including caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
- Avoid stimulant medications such as cough and cold medicines and herbal supplements.
Your doctor may also prescribe medication if the above lifestyle changes do not provide relief, such as beta-blockers or calcium-channel blockers.
In the case of heart palpitations caused by medication, the doctor will find a different treatment.
Always consult a specialist if your palpitations are interfering with your activities. This is because it could be a symptom of heart disease. For example, if your palpitations turn out to be caused by arrhythmia, you may be referred to a heart rhythm specialist known as an electrophysiologist.
The doctor will conduct a series of tests to find the cause of the palpitations, such as:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): An examination procedure that aims to determine the electrical activity of the heart.
- Echocardiogram or heart ultrasound: A medical procedure using sound waves to determine the function, size, structure and movement of the heart.
- Cardiac event recording: This is a recording device to determine the electrical activity of the heart during activity by recording the rate of change in heart rate and rhythm. It is usually recommended for palpitations that occur less than once a week.
- Holter monitoring: A follow-up test when ECG examination is unsuccessful. Patients will wear a portable device whose function is to record electrical activity in the heart for approximately 24 - 72 hours.
A series of tests like the above can be done in hospitals that have sophisticated tools and technology, and are handled by competent and experienced doctors.
