Heart palpitations can be an occasional occurrence and not considered serious, or they can be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. Depending on the cause and severity of your symptoms, making changes to your diet may help and that includes watching the amount and type of carbohydrates you consume. However, before making any changes to your diet be sure to talk to your doctor, who can run tests to find the underlying cause of your heart palpitations.
Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitation is a general term used to describe sensations such as a racing heart beat, a pulse that is too slow or skips beats or a pounding feeling in the chest or throat. In most cases, heart palpitations are not serious and can be triggered by too much caffeine, fatigue, exercise, stress or smoking, says MedlinePlus. Heart palpitations can also be a symptom of heart disease especially if you have risk factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure. In cases where there is no known medical cause for your palpitations, reducing stress and avoiding triggers may be the only treatment you need.
Heart Disease and Palpitations
Sometimes heart palpitations can be caused by heart failure, a structural problem in the heart valves, or be due to coronary artery disease, which is a hardening of the blood vessels, notes the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Heart disease may be suspected if your palpitations are accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, fainting or dizzy spells. If your doctor determines that your palpitations are due to an underlying condition, you will need to make dietary changes to reduce your risk of complications and this includes controlling your carbohydrate, salt, fat and cholesterol intake. Severe cases of heart disease may also require medication and/or surgery.
Diabetes and Heart Palpitations
High blood sugar levels that are not well controlled can cause damage to the blood vessels, which raises your risk of heart disease and the accompanying palpitations. In fact, having diabetes doubles both your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke and your chances of dying from it, reports the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Keeping blood sugar levels in check requires limiting the amount of carbohydrates you eat. A general goal is to consume about 30 to 45 g of carbs at each meal and around 15 g at snack time. However, each person responds to food differently, so you will need to test your blood sugar levels regularly to see if your diet is working.
Carbohydrates and Palpitations
If your palpitations are due to heart disease and/or you have diabetes it is important to eat the right kind of carbohydrates. Choosing carbohydrates that are high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy and whole grains, can help to control your weight and blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Avoid carbohydrates in the form of sugary foods and beverages as well as refined grains, as they tend to cause spikes and drops in blood sugar levels, contribute to obesity and can lead to high cholesterol levels. A general goal is to get 45 to 60 percent of your total daily caloric intake from carbohydrates that also provide a daily intake of 25 to 35 g of fiber.
