Palpitations—the sensation that the heart has
started to race or pound, or feels like it has skipped
a beat—are usually caused by a harmless hiccup
in the heart’s rhythm. Sometimes, though, palpitations
reflect a problem in the heart or elsewhere in the
body. Sorting out worrisome palpitations from harmless
ones isn’t always easy, reports the September
2007 issue of the Harvard Heart Letter.
Palpitations are extremely common. Different people
experience them in different ways. You might feel as
though your heart is fluttering, throbbing, flip-flopping,
or pounding, or that it has missed a beat. Palpitations
can appear out of the blue and disappear just as suddenly.
Or they might be linked with certain activities, events,
or feelings. Some of the most important pieces of information
that can help your doctor in pinning them down is how
palpitations feel, how often they strike, and when
they occur.
Some palpitations result from premature contractions
of the heart’s chambers or malfunctions of
a heart valve. But a physical exam and electrocardiogram
often don’t turn up any problems, which can
be frustrating to the patient. If your palpitations
aren’t accompanied by dizziness or other symptoms
and if you don’t have a valve disorder or other
structural problem with your heart, that usually
means palpitations are benign.
The Harvard Heart Letter suggests that if
you have unexplained palpitations, start with simple
steps to help alleviate them. Cut back on caffeine,
smoking, and alcohol; avoid over-the-counter decongestants,
eat and drink regularly, get enough sleep, and find
a way to relax if you are stressed. In some cases,
your doctor may recommend medications or a procedure
to correct errant electrical signals in the heart.
Also in this issue:
- Cutting back on salt leads to longer life
- Inherited high
cholesterol poses serious risks
- Ask the doctor: Red yeast rice and cholesterol;
blood pressure differences in arms
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