Why is My Heart Beating Fast for No Reason?

Heart Palpitations: Common Triggers & When to Worry

A faster heartbeat or palpitations occurs due to various factors, such as exercise, anxiety, and stress. It is an extremely common experience and is not a cause for concern, especially if it happens due to exercise or stressful conditions.  

What are heart palpitations?

Palpitations feel like your heart is missing beats, racing or pounding. You can feel the sensation in your throat, chest and neck.

It is very common and can happen anytime while you are resting or doing any activity. Maybe these are astonishing, but they are not harmful or serious.

However, these may sometimes relate to abnormal heart rhythms that require medical attention.

How Common are Palpitations?

It is very common, and studies show that more than 20% of people visit cardiologists because they have experienced palpitations. Heart palpititation is a common symptom of underlying congenital heart diseases, like heart failure or a heart attack. Thus, many people, after experiencing persistent palpitations, visit cardiologists.

What Causes Heart Palpitations?

Several factors can trigger heart palpitations in both children and adults. The following list will discuss some of the factors that can cause palpitations:

• Exercise
• Emotional conditions, such as stress, anxiety, fear, and panic
• Caffeine
• Pregnancy
• Overactive thyroid production
• Lower levels of dissolved carbon dioxide in the blood
• Fever
• Dehydration
• Blood loss
• Anaemia
• Beta blockers or asthma inhalers
• Decongestants
• Nicotine
• Alcohol
• Nutritional herbal supplements  
• Low Blood Sugar
• Hormonal changes
• Depression

When Do You Get Heart Palpitations?

Many experience palpitations at different phases of life, which include:

• Anxiety:Palpitations are a common reflex of your body during anxiety or panic situations (panic attack).
• After a Meal: Caffeinated drinks or spicy-rich foods contain capsaicin, which induces blood pressure, causing a higher heart rate or palpitations.
• During Night: It is a normal type of palpitation, which does not have any serious concerns.
• Sleeping on One Side: Sleeping on one side creates pressure on the whole body, which can cause palpitations.
• Exercise:While exercising, your body releases a huge amount of energy, which results in extra blood pumped by the heart. Intense pumping of blood increases the heart rate, leading to palpitations.
• Pregnancy: During pregnancy, your heart and blood circulation increase to support the baby. Frequent heart palpitations are extremely common for pregnant women, and you can seek guidance from your healthcare provider.

What are the Treatments for Heart Palpitations?

Heart palpitations are normal and usually recover on their own. You can easily resolve this problem by avoiding these things:

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Caffeinated beverages
• Extra spicy and fat-rich foods
• Doing extremely hard work

Let’s discuss some ways to manage heart palpitations

• Practice stress-free techniques
• Stay hydrated
• Get enough quality sleep

Initial Diagnosis of Heart Palpitations?

A health expert will begin with a physical examination by listening to your heart. He will also review your:

• Medical history
• Symptoms
• Diet
• Medications, any supplements if you take.

What are the diagnostic tests for palpitations?

Doctors sometimes recommend these tests to detect palpitations and other heart-related problems.

• Urine tests
• Blood tests
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Stress test
• A Holter Monitor to monitor the heart's activity
• Cardiac catheterisation
• Electrophysiology study

If you are experiencing abnormal heartbeats, you must seek help from cardiologists regarding safety measures.

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