Palpitations
Palpitations refer to the sensation of an irregular or rapid heartbeat, which individuals may describe as discomfort or a fluttering feeling. While often harmless, palpitations can be symptomatic of arrhythmias, conditions that involve abnormal electrical activities in the heart, leading to irregular heart muscle contractions. These occurrences are common among people of all ages and genders and can be triggered by various factors, including high caffeine intake, alcohol and tobacco use, extreme exertion, stress, anxiety, fever, or hormonal fluctuations related to pregnancy or menopause.
Most palpitations do not indicate serious heart issues; however, should they occur with other symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath, medical attention is advised, as they may signal underlying structural heart problems. Diagnosis typically involves tests like electrocardiograms (ECGs) or echocardiograms. Treatment usually focuses on addressing the underlying causes, which may involve lifestyle changes or medications. In more severe cases, interventions like surgery or the installation of implantable devices may be necessary. Overall, advancements in medical understanding have revealed that heart palpitations are widespread, often manageable, and not necessarily indicative of severe health concerns.
Subject Terms
Palpitations
Also known as: Skipping beats, irregular heartbeat
Anatomy or system affected: Chest, circulatory system, heart, muscles
Definition: A perceived irregularity of the normal heartbeat.
Causes and Symptoms
Individuals experiencing palpitations often describe a slight discomfort and uneasiness accompanied by a flutter or sudden change in heart rate. Palpitations are often harmless, although they may be a symptom of an abnormal heart rhythm known as an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias involve a change in the electrical activity of the heart resulting in a chaotic or irregular contraction of the heart muscle. The location of these arrhythmias within the heart muscle determines the type, duration, and intensity of the palpitations.
Palpitations are common among many people, regardless of age or gender. They are often diagnosed by cardiologists using several techniques aimed at measuring the electrical activity of the heart. Such tests include electrocardiograms (ECGs), Holter monitoring, and stress tests. Most palpitations do not indicate the presence of a serious cardiac problem. Instead, they are often the result of one cause or a combination of several causes. Several underlying causes of heart palpitations include a high caffeine intake, alcohol and tobacco use, stimulant medications, extreme physical exertion, stress and anxiety, fever, or hormonal changes due to pregnancy or menopause.
Palpitations have not been shown to cause any damage to the heart muscle. Extended palpitations, however, may lead to decreased blood flow to areas of the brain, heart, or other parts of the body. This decreased blood flow can create oxygen deficits in these areas, leading to dizziness, loss of consciousness, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Patients experiencing palpitations with any other symptoms should seek medical care. Palpitations accompanied by such symptoms may be a sign of other structural problems of the heart muscle or surrounding blood vessels and may be diagnosed with the use of an echocardiogram (an ultrasound technique) or invasive catheterization. Occasionally, palpitations are the sign of more serious health problems, such as hyperthyroidism, tachycardia, or bradycardia.
Treatment and Therapy
Most palpitations are treated by removing the underlying causes. Decreasing intake of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco products often succeeds in lowering the frequency and severity of palpitations. Reducing levels of physical and emotional stress while maintaining proper diet and sleep patterns has also been successful in treating palpitations. Medications such as beta-blockers or calcium-channel blockers or other methods such as surgery or implantable defibrillators may be used to treat palpitations in more severe cases.
Perspective and Prospects
Advances in medical technology have shown heart palpitations to be much more common than once thought. Today, heartbeat irregularities perceived as palpitations are rarely considered to be a sign of serious disease and are often easily treated or prevented.
Bibliography
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