Gatorade is a sports beverage designed to help athletes and other physically active people stay hydrated during exercise. Containing water, carbohydrates and the electrolytes sodium, potassium and chloride, Gatorade supplies energy along with mineral salts typically lost through sweat. In some cases, Gatorade may help prevent or fix problems associated with electrolyte imbalance, such as heart palpitations.
Description
Heart palpitations involve a pounding or racing heartbeat, usually along with the feeling that your heart is skipping beats or has an abnormal rhythm. Palpitations can have a variety of causes such as stimulant use, anxiety, stress, anemia, overactive thyroid, intense exercise, hyperventilation, heart valve disease, some medications and electrolyte abnormalities in your blood, such as low potassium. Although heart palpitations aren't usually serious, they can be uncomfortable and may signify a more serious medical condition.
Effects
If you're experiencing heart palpitations due to an electrolyte imbalance, drinking Gatorade may help replenish lost electrolytes and potentially restore a normal heart rhythm. Electrolyte imbalances result from fluid changes in your body, such as from excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney problems or medications with dehydrating properties. Because Gatorade contains both water and several important electrolytes, it can help your body regain a normal fluid balance after you've lost significant water.
Considerations
Although Gatorade can help improve heart palpitations resulting from electrolyte imbalances, it's unlikely to help palpitations that have other causes, such as from medications, anemia, thyroid disease or hyperventilation. If you haven't recently vomited, experienced diarrhea or engaged in sweat-inducing activities that could disturb your electrolyte balance, your heart palpitations may be due to other causes and Gatorade may be ineffective as a treatment.
Warning
In some cases, heart palpitations may indicate a more serious medical condition, including severe heart problems. If you lose and regain consciousness, feel frequent extra heart beats, have a rapid pulse even when not exercising, experience shortness of breath, have chest pain, are sweating profusely, feel dizzy or have risk factors for heart disease such as high cholesterol, seek medical attention rather than trying to self-treat your condition with Gatorade.
