Heart palpitations are irregular heartbeat you may feel too fast heartbeats, skipping a beat, or fluttering. When a person suffers from heart palpitations, they may notice that their heartbeat is irregular. It is usually not serious, but it can indicate a serious condition that requires medical attention.

People are usually unaware of their heartbeat, but it does occur without stopping until death. This could be due to their heart pounding too hard, too fast, too slow, or too irregularly.

Heart palpitation may be felt in the neck, throat, or chest. If you are lying down, you may even feel them in their ears.

Palpitations may last only a few seconds for some people, while others may experience them for minutes or hours at a time.

Palpitations are often annoying but not dangerous. They can, however, be a symptom of arrhythmia and a warning sign of cardiac arrest.

As a result, people who experience heart palpitations should seek medical attention.

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Palpitations:

If you have heart palpitations and a diagnosed heart problem, seek medical attention immediately. Seek medical attention if your palpitations are accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• Dizziness
• weakness
• lightheadedness
• confusion
• breathing difficulties
• sweating excessively
• In your chest, you may experience pain, pressure, or tightness.
• A resting pulse rate of more than 100 beats per minute and pain in your arms, neck, chest, jaw, or upper back
• Breathing difficulty

Causes of Heart Palpitations:

Heart palpitations can be caused by a variety of factors. Physical or mental stress, anxiety, dehydration, and a lack of sleep are all common causes.

They can, however, indicate an underlying heart problem.

Heart problems:

Palpitations can be caused by a variety of heart conditions. They are frequently associated with: abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmia. This, however, can be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition.

Palpitations can occur as a result of the following:

• Coronary artery disease is a type of cardiovascular disease
• heart valve problems, particularly mitral valve
• structural heart problems that occur from birth
• cardiomyopathy, in which the heart becomes enlarged
• ventricular tachycardia.
• Atrioventricular fibrillation

It could also be a sign of heart failure or a heart attack, both of which can be caused by a variety of structural and other issues.

Emotional:

Anxiety is one of the emotional factors that can cause heart palpitations.

Stress, panic, depression, or Insomnia (sleep deprivation)

Medications:

Certain medications can also cause palpitations in the heart.

• Asthma inhalers are one example.
• Antihistamines
• Thyroid hormone replacement therapy
• Anti-arrhythmic drugs
• certain antibiotics
• certain antidepressants
• antifungal treatments
• some anti-cough and anti-cold medications
• some herbal or dietary supplements

Medical problems:

Heart palpitations may be caused by underlying medical conditions. These are some examples:

• Anemia caused by food poisoning
•  Low blood sugar levels
• Dehydration caused by low potassium and magnesium levels
• fever and high temperature
• shock due to blood loss
• postural or orthostatic hypotension
• low levels of oxygen in the blood
• Pheochromocytoma
• Paget's syndrome
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a type of Parkinson's disease.

Lifestyle:

Heart palpitations can be caused by a variety of lifestyle factors, including:

• Caffeine ingestion (from tea, coffee, or energy drinks)
• Alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use is a strenuous exercise.
• use of recreational drugs (cannabis, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, or amphetamines)
• Consumption of rich or spicy foods

Changes in Hormones:

Changes in hormones are another possible cause. Hormone levels may fluctuate as a result of:

• menstrual cycles
• pregnancy
• Thyroid issue during menopause

Risk Factors:

If you have any of the following, you may be at risk of developing palpitations:

• Are under a lot of pressure
• Do you suffer from an anxiety disorder or panic attacks on a regular basis?
• Are you expecting a child?
• Take stimulant-containing medications, such as cold or asthma medications.
• Have a thyroid gland that is overactive (hyperthyroidism)
• Have other heart issues, such as an arrhythmia, a heart defect, a previous heart attack, or previous heart surgery.

Complications:

Many cases of heart palpitations are unrelated to anything serious. However, if they are the result of an underlying heart condition, they can lead to serious complications.

Among these complications are:

• fainting as a result of a rapid heartbeat, in which blood pressure simultaneously drops to a very low-level
• stroke, which can result in neurological damage
• A fast heart rate usually begins and ends abruptly
• Atrial fibrillation, which can be caused by an ischemic stroke or underlying heart disease
• ventricular tachycardia (VT), in which the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute and is out of sync with the atria (upper heart chambers)
• ventricular fibrillation, which can occur if VT is not treated and can be fatal

Heart palpitations are a symptom of heart failure and may precede cardiac arrest.

When to see a doctor:

Consult your doctor if you have:

• Diminished alertness (consciousness)
• Chest pain
• Breathing difficulty
• Unusual perspiration
• Lightheadedness or dizziness

If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor:

• Extra heartbeats are frequently felt (more than 6 per minute or coming in groups of 3 or more).
• You have heart disease risk factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
• You are experiencing new or different heart palpitations.
• Your pulse rate is greater than 100 beats per minute (without exercise, anxiety, or fever).
• You are experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or loss of consciousness.

Diagnosis of Heart:

Heart palpitations are usually harmless, but it is a good idea to consult a doctor if they occur.

Experts advise healthcare professionals to screen people for cardiovascular problems if they seek help for palpitations.

If you have any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor:

• palpitations that aggravate or do not alleviate other symptoms, such as chest pain or other health concerns

Although palpitations are unlikely to occur in the doctor's office, keeping a record of the following points may aid in diagnosis:

• What palpitations feel like and how frequently they occur.

Answering some of the following questions may also assist the doctor:

• Is the heart rate too fast or too slow during a palpitation episode, and is the rhythm regular or irregular?
• Is there dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, or chest pain?
• Is it common for palpitations to occur while performing a specific activity? Is there a pattern here?
• Do the palpitations come on suddenly and then stop, or do they come on gradually?

The doctor will almost certainly:

• Inquire about your symptoms.
• conduct a physical examination
• Examine the person's medical history.
• perform a 12-lead electrocardiogram test (ECG)

Through electrical tracing, an ECG measures heart rate and rhythm parameters.

Depending on the symptoms, the doctor may also perform blood tests, an exercise stress test, and other investigations, such as requesting that the patient wear an arrhythmia monitor at home.

They may also recommend that the individual see a cardiologist.

Treatment of Heart Palpitations:

It is determined by the underlying cause. Palpitations are usually harmless and go away on their own. In that case, there is no need for treatment.

If your doctor can not find a cause, he or she may advise you to avoid things that may cause the palpitations. Among the possible strategies are:

Relieve stress and anxiety: Leave a tense situation and try to remain calm. Palpitations can be caused by anxiety, stress, fear, or panic. Other common methods for remaining calm include:

• Exercises for relaxation
• Yoga, Tai Chi, and Biofeedback
• Aromatherapy

Remove certain foods, beverages, and other substances from your diet. These could include:

• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Caffeine
• Illegal drugs

Stimulant medications should be avoided. You may have to avoid the following:

• Cough and cold remedies
• Certain herbal and dietary supplements

If lifestyle changes are ineffective, you may be prescribed medication. These may be beta-blockers or calcium-channel blockers in some cases.

If your doctor discovers the cause of your palpitations, he or she will concentrate on treating that cause.

If they are the result of a medication, your doctor will try to find an alternative treatment.

If they indicate an arrhythmia, you may be given medications or undergo procedures. You may also be referred to an electrophysiologist, a heart rhythm specialist.

Prevention of Heart Palpitations:

If your doctor believes that treatment is not necessary, you can take the following steps to reduce your chances of experiencing palpitations:

• Find out what your triggers are so you can avoid them. Keep a journal of your activities, as well as the foods and beverages you consume, and keep track of when you experience palpitations.
• Try relaxation exercises, deep breathing, yoga, or tai chi if you're feeling anxious or stressed.
• Caffeine consumption should be reduced or eliminated. Energy drinks should be avoided.
• You should not smoke or use tobacco products.
• If a medication is causing palpitations, consult your doctor to see if there are any other options.
• Regular exercise is essential.
• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Reduce your alcohol consumption.
• Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol level.

Home Remedies for Heart Palpitations:

Heart palpitations can be caused by a variety of lifestyle factors. In rare cases, an underlying medical condition is to blame. Palpitations can be caused by the following conditions, and they must be treated by a doctor:

• Thyroid issues
• Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) include atrial fibrillation.
• In rare cases, heart failure

Regular exercise:

Exercise can improve overall cardiovascular health and restore the natural rhythm of the heart. It can also aid in the reduction of stress and anxiety.

Cardiovascular exercise strengthens the heart, which can help to prevent or alleviate palpitations.

Walking, jogging, running, biking, and swimming are all beneficial exercises.

Exercise, on the other hand, can cause palpitations in some people, so it's critical to identify and avoid problematic exercises.

Before beginning a new exercise routine, consult with your doctor.

Maintain hydration: When the body is dehydrated, the heart has to work harder to circulate blood, which can result in heart palpitations.

Throughout the day, drink plenty of water. The recommended amount varies depending on age, gender, and whether or not a person is pregnant.

When a person's urine is dark, they should drink a full cup or glass of water.

Their heart rate rises.

They have a dry mouth, are thirsty, have a headache, are dizzy, and their skin is dry or prune-like.

Maintain electrolyte balance:

Electrolytes are molecules found in the body that aid in the transmission of electrical signals. These signals play an important role in heart rate regulation.

A person's electrolyte levels can be increased by eating foods high in

• sodium
• potassium.
• calcium
• magnesium

A typical diet contains a sufficient amount of sodium.

Potassium-rich foods include the following:

• potatoes
• bananas
• avocados
• spinach

Calcium is abundant in dairy products and dark, leafy greens. These vegetables, as well as nuts and fish, contain magnesium.

It may be tempting to obtain these nutrients through supplementation. Before taking any supplements, a person should consult a doctor, especially if they are also taking prescription medication.

Avoid excessive alcohol consumption:

Alcohol is a depressant that does not usually increase heart rate.

While moderate drinking is not necessarily harmful, some research suggests that even one drink per day can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. One of the symptoms of this condition is a palpitating heart.

Reduce or eliminate your intake of stimulants:

After using a stimulant, symptoms may become apparent.

Stimulants can be found in the following foods:

• products containing tobacco
• illegal drugs such as Amphetamin
• a few cold and cough medicines
• coffee, tea, and soda are examples of caffeinated beverages.
• appetite suppressants, marijuana, and some mental health medications
• some hypertension medications

Not every stimulant causes palpitations in everyone.

Perform vagal maneuvers:

The vagus nerve serves several purposes, including connecting your brain to your heart. Vagal maneuvers stimulate the vagus nerve, which may aid in the regulation of a fast heartbeat. You can stimulate the vagus nerve at home, but only with your doctor's permission.

Here are a few methods for stimulating the nerve:

• For 20-30 seconds, take a cold shower, splash cold water on your face, or apply a cold towel or icepack to your face. The "shock" of cold water stimulates the nerve.
• Cough or gag while chanting the word "Om."
• Hold your breath or bear down as if you're about to have a bowel movement.

Perform these maneuvers while lying on your back for the best results. Your doctor will be able to show you how to do them correctly.

Maintain a healthy body weight:

Obesity and being overweight can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Losing weight can help with everything from cholesterol levels to blood pressure levels.

Quit smoking:

There are numerous advantages to quitting smoking, including a lower risk of developing heart disease and stroke, lung disease, and certain cancers.