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Why is my heart beating so quickly?

Why is my heart beating so quickly? Palpitations can be frightening and unsettling even though they are common for many people. If for no reason the heart beats more than 100 per minute, it raises a cause for concern. They can be caused by a variety of factors and feel like a fluttering, hammering, or racing heartbeat. In this article, we'll examine the reasons why palpitations occur, as well as some potential signs and suggestions for what to do in that situation.

ECG Heart Beat Reading

Why is my heart beating so quickly? What Brings About Palpitations?

There are many different things that might trigger palpitations, including:

Anxiety and stress

1. Anxiety and Stress: Palpitations can be a sign of anxiety and stress. Your body releases adrenaline in response to stress or anxiety, which can make your heart beat more quickly. If your lifestyle is always on the rush, stressed, being angry, it’s no surprise if the beat hits above 90 per minute.

2. Nicotine and Caffeine: Both nicotine and caffeine are stimulants that can make your heart beat more rapidly and forcefully, resulting in palpitations. Energy drinks taken as a routine can also be a culprit.

3. Medications: A number of drugs, including some antidepressants, decongestants, and asthma inhalers, might result in palpitations.

4. Heart Issues: Heart issues including atrial fibrillation, heart valve issues, or cardiomyopathy can all manifest as palpitations. 5. Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy, menopause, or thyroid disorders, can result in palpitations.

What Symptoms Might You Experience?

Heart Palpitations

Palpitations themselves can be a symptom of an underlying condition, but they can also cause additional symptoms, such as:

  1. Shortness of breath
  2. Chest pain or discomfort
  3. Dizziness or lightheadedness
  4. Fainting or near-fainting
  5. Sweating
  6. Nausea or vomiting

If you experience any of these symptoms along with palpitations, it is important to seek medical attention.

Shortness of breath

What Actions Should You Take If You Have Palpitations?

There are certain actions you can take to help manage palpitations if you are having them:

1. Determine Triggers: Look for any factors, such as caffeine, alcohol, or stress, that may be contributing to your palpitations. You can take steps to prevent or lessen these triggers once you've identified them.

2. Practice Relaxation Practices: Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are examples of relaxation techniques that can help lower stress and anxiety, which in turn helps lower heart palpitations.

3. Maintain Hydration: Dehydration can lead to palpitations, therefore it's critical to maintain adequate hydration throughout the day by consuming lots of water.

4. Seek Medical Attention: It's critical to seek medical attention if your palpitations are prolonged, frequent, or accompanied by other symptoms. Your doctor can help determine the underlying cause of your palpitations and provide appropriate treatment.

What if the palpitations occur for no apparent reason?

It might be unsettling and irritating when palpitations happen for no obvious cause. Idiopathic or benign palpitation is the term used to describe this kind of palpitation, which has no known structural cardiac disease or abnormalities as the underlying cause.

The majority of the time, idiopathic palpitations are not hazardous. But if the palpitations are frequent, ongoing, or accompanied by additional symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting, it's crucial to get medical help. Your doctor can assist in identifying the underlying cause of your palpitations and, if required, can offer the necessary treatment.

Avoid triggers such as caffeine

In cases of idiopathic palpitations, lifestyle modifications can help reduce the frequency and severity of palpitations. These modifications may include avoiding triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, reducing stress through relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga, and maintaining a healthy weight and exercise routine.

If lifestyle modifications are not effective, medication may be prescribed to control the palpitations. In rare cases, surgical procedures such as catheter ablation may be recommended to correct the underlying cause of the palpitations.

Catheter ablation

In summary, idiopathic palpitations can occur without any apparent reason and are often not dangerous. However, it is important to seek medical attention if the palpitations are frequent, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms. Lifestyle modifications and medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of palpitations, and in some cases, surgical procedures may be necessary.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia, commonly referred to as irregular heartbeat, is a disorder in which the heart beats abnormally frequently or seldom. While certain types of arrhythmia are risk-free, others can be harmful and even fatal.

Threats posed by arrhythmia:

1. Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Arrhythmia can occasionally cause the heart to suddenly cease beating, resulting in sudden cardiac arrest. This is a medical emergency that needs to be treated right now to avoid death.

2. Stroke: Blood clots can form in the heart and move to the brain, causing a stroke, if the heart is beating too slowly or irregularly.

3. Heart Failure: Prolonged or severe arrhythmia can weaken the heart muscle and result in heart failure, a condition when the heart fails to contract normally.

4. Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy: Tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia where the heart beats too quickly. Prolonged tachycardia can cause the heart muscle to weaken and enlarge, leading to a condition known as tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

5. Syncope: Syncope is a medical term for fainting or passing out. Arrhythmia can cause syncope due to inadequate blood flow to the brain.

Factors at Risk for Arrhythmia:

1. Age: Arrhythmia risk rises with advancing age, especially in people over 60.

2. Family History: You may be at a higher risk if there is a history of arrhythmia in your family.

3. Heart Disease: Heart failure, heart valve disease, and coronary artery disease are all conditions that can raise the risk of arrhythmia.

4. High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure can make arrhythmia, especially atrial fibrillation, more likely. 5. Lifestyle Factors: Abuse of drugs, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption are among lifestyle choices that can raise the chance of an arrhythmia.

Treatment of Arrhythmia:

Depending on the kind and degree of the problem, arrhythmia treatment may vary. There are several different forms of treatment, including medication, electrical cardioversion, catheter ablation, pacemaker insertion, and surgery.

Arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms that can range in severity from mild to life-threatening and are also a result of thyroid diseases. In comparison to hypothyroidism, atrial fibrillation, a common type of arrhythmia, is more frequently linked to hyperthyroidism. Occasionally, even after the thyroid issue has been treated, the arrhythmia may still exist. Medication, dietary adjustments, or medical treatments like cardioversion or catheter ablation are all possible forms of arrhythmia treatment.

Why is my heart beating so quickly? - Conclusion

While palpitations might be a terrifying sensation, they are frequently innocuous and can be controlled with dietary adjustments and relaxation exercises. However, it is crucial to contact a doctor in order to identify the underlying reason of your palpitations and obtain the right care if you suffer them frequently, persistently, or if they are accompanied by other symptoms.

Depending on the type and degree, arrhythmia is a frequent disorder that may not be harmful or potentially fatal. You should be aware of the dangers and get medical help if you develop symptoms like palpitations, lightheadedness, or fainting. Many persons with Arrhythmia are treated differently depending on their nature and severity. Medication, electrical cardioversion, catheter ablation, pacemaker installation, and surgery are all available treatment modalities.

Lastly, and often not accounted for, if one has a lot of sins, this unexplained heart racing may be attributed to that conscience. The anxiety cause by the feeling of doing wrong can also lead to increase heart beat.

[This article was inspired by one of Dr. Noordin Darus's live Facebook sessions.]

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