If you are having heart palpitations, it means that you are aware of your own heart beat. Heart palpitations can be just an unpleasant symptom or they may be a warning sign of an underlying medical condition. If you are having this symptom, talk to your doctor. He can perform a physical exam and run tests to determine the cause of your heart palpitations and then decide if any treatment is needed.
Identification
Your heart normally beats about 60 to 80 times a minute without your even thinking about it. If you develop heart palpitations, it means that you are aware of your heart beat. It may feel like your heart is pounding, racing or skipping a beat, states the Cleveland Clinic. You can feel these sensations in your chest or neck. It can happen while exerting yourself or when resting. If they occur without any other symptoms, then your heart palpitations may not be serious. However, if this symptom is new for you, it is best to check with your physician to rule out other medical conditions.
Causes
Temporary situations can cause your heart to race or beat irregularly. Strong emotions and stress can speed up your heart. Smoking and ingesting too much caffeine in drinks or foods can cause your heart rhythm to change. Prescription and over-the-counter medications taken for a cold, asthma, high blood pressure and thyroid disorder can cause palpitations as a side effect. Certain herbal remedies may also make your heart race. If your palpitations are caused by one of the above, your symptoms should resolve when changes to your diet and medications are made. However, in some cases palpitations signal an underlying condition. This includes heart disease, diabetes and thyroid diseases. You should be concerned if your heart palpitations are accompanied by dizziness, chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion or fainting spells.
Diagnosis
Your physician will need to run a variety of tests to help determine the cause of your heart palpitations. According to the Mayo Clinic, this includes an electrocardiogram and/or halter monitor. These tests involve placing electrodes on your skin, which are then attached to a machine. Sometimes this takes place in a hospital setting. Some machines are small enough to fit in your pocket and are worn for a day or two. They record your heart rhythm activity while you go about your normal routine. These tests can show how often you have palpitations and what is happening to the heart muscle during an event. They will tell you how long your palpitations last. Your doctor may ask you to keep a diary of everything you do while wearing a monitor to help determine what is triggering your symptoms. Chest x-rays, echocardiograms and other scans may also be used. These scans show the size and structure of the heart and any abnormalities that may exist.
Treatment
The treatment you need will be determined by the cause of your heart palpitations. The University of Maryland Medical Center claims that in most cases this symptom is not serious. Changing your diet, getting regular exercise and managing your stress levels may be enough. However, if the underlying cause is an irregular heart rhythm, you will need medical treatment. This can include tachycardia (the heart beats over 100 beats per minute), bradycardia (slow heart beat under 55 beats per minute), a problem with a heart valve or abnormality of the heart muscle. In this case, your doctor may need to prescribe medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease. If a condition such as diabetes or a thyroid disorder is to blame, the condition will need to be controlled.
Warning
Any irregular heart rhythm should be investigated by your doctor. Heart palpitations that are a sign of an underlying disease can be fatal if left untreated. If the heart beats too fast or too slow, you may faint and become unconscious. If your heart muscle is struggling to pump blood, you may develop heart failure. In rare cases palpitations can become a chronic, irregular heart beat. Over time the heart may lose its ability to contract and relax normally. It may quiver or not contract at all. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
