Experiencing heart palpitations while keeping up with the pace of daily life may be a signal your body gives you. Maybe you are trying to cope with a busy work schedule or personal stress. The first step to dealing with heart palpitations may be to relax and breathe deeply. Relaxing activities such as yoga or meditation can help stabilize your heart rate. However, if heart palpitations have become a persistent problem, it is important to consult a qualified healthcare professional. This may be a symptom of an underlying health problem, and serious problems can be prevented with early intervention.
What is heart palpitations?
Heart palpitations are a condition in which a person feels a faster or irregular heartbeat than normal. While the normal heart rate in a healthy individual is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, this number may increase in case of heart palpitations. Many factors can cause heart palpitations, including stress, excitement, physical activity, caffeine consumption, anemia, hormonal changes, heart rhythm disturbances.
Heart palpitations are usually temporary and resolve on their own. However, in cases of persistent or severe heart palpitations, there may be an underlying health problem and need to be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Also, in some cases, heart palpitations can be a symptom of heart conditions, so in severe cases it is important to be examined by a specialist doctor.
Heart palpitations are when the heart beats faster than normal or irregularly. Heart palpitations may occur temporarily due to reasons such as stress, exercise or caffeine. However, heart palpitations may also be a symptom of heart disease or another serious health problem. Causes of heart palpitations include:
- Stress, anxiety or panic attack: Emotional situations such as stress, anxiety or panic attacks can cause the heart to beat faster.
- Exercise: Heart rate increases during exercise. This is a normal situation.
- Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine: Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine can cause your heart to beat faster.
- Thyroid disease: Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can cause the heart to beat faster.
- Anemia: Anemia can cause the heart to beat faster.
- Heart disease: Heart disease is the most common cause of heart palpitations. Heart diseases include heart failure, heart rhythm disorders and heart valve diseases.
- Other diseases: Some other diseases can also cause heart palpitations. These diseases include rheumatic heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease and some infections.
How long does heart palpitations last?
The duration of heart palpitations varies depending on its cause. Heart palpitations caused by stress, anxiety or panic attacks usually pass within a few minutes. Heart palpitations that occur during exercise return to normal after the exercise is over. Heart palpitations caused by factors such as caffeine, alcohol or nicotine go away after avoiding these factors. Heart palpitations caused by chronic diseases such as thyroid disease, anemia, or heart disease can be persistent or recurring. Heart palpitations require immediate medical attention in the following situations:
- Is accompanied by other serious symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting
- Heart palpitations do not go away within a few minutes or occur repeatedly
What are the symptoms of heart palpitations?
Heart palpitations is a condition in which a person feels a faster or irregular heartbeat than normal. Symptoms of heart palpitations may include:
- Fast Heartbeat: Feeling your heart beat faster than your normal heart rate.
- Irregular Heartbeats: Deviated or irregular heartbeats from normal rhythm.
- Chest Pain or Tightness: Heart palpitations can often be accompanied by discomfort, pain, or a feeling of tightness in the chest area.
- Dizziness or Fainting: Heart palpitations may cause dizziness or fainting due to changes in blood pressure.
- Shortness of breath: Fast heartbeat can make it difficult for enough oxygen to reach the body, which can cause shortness of breath.
- Chills or Sweating: Chills or excessive sweating due to changes in body temperature during heart palpitations.
- Headache: Heart palpitations can sometimes be associated with headaches.
- Stomach Discomfort: This condition may be accompanied by stomach problems, acid reflux, or digestive problems.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, especially if they are recurring or severe, it is important to see a healthcare professional. Heart palpitations can occur for a variety of reasons and can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying health problem. A specialist doctor can evaluate your condition and determine the appropriate treatment or management plan.
The question of how to get rid of heart palpitations varies depending on the cause of heart palpitations. Some methods that can be good for heart palpitations:
- Do deep breathing exercises.
- Participate in activities that help reduce stress, such as yoga or meditation.
- Exercise regularly.
- Get regular sleep.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- When exercising, start slowly and pay attention to rest.
- Limit or eliminate your caffeine, alcohol and nicotine consumption.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions.
- Take your medications regularly.
- Go for regular checkups recommended by your doctor.
What causes heart palpitations during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, a number of physiological changes occur in the body and these changes can cause heart palpitations. Some possible causes of heart palpitations during pregnancy include:
Blood Volume Increase: During pregnancy, the body produces more blood and pumps it into the circulatory system. This can cause the heart to have to work harder and lead to heart palpitations.
Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy triggers a series of hormonal changes in the body. Especially the increase in progesterone and estrogen hormones can affect the heart rate.
Circulatory System Changes: Changes during pregnancy, such as the growth of the uterus, the displacement of organs in the abdomen, and the expansion of blood vessels in the body, can affect the circulatory system.
Increase in Metabolic Rate: During pregnancy, the body increases its metabolic rate. This can also affect heart rate.
Anemia: Iron deficiency anemia is common during pregnancy. Anemia can reduce the body’s ability to carry enough oxygen, which can cause heart palpitations.
Stress and Anxiety: Increased stress and anxiety levels during pregnancy can affect heart rate.
Heart palpitations during pregnancy are generally normal and natural. However, in case of severe or persistent heart palpitations, it is important to consult a healthcare professional. Although these conditions are usually not a sign of a serious problem, it is important to seek help from a specialist doctor for a correct evaluation.