Normally you don't feel your heartbeat, so if you notice your heart is beating out of time or is too fast or too slow, you should see your doctor. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and about any other medical conditions you have and medicines you take.
Heart arrhythmia treatment may include medications, catheter procedures, implanted devices or surgery to control or eliminate fast, slow or irregular heartbeats. A heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent heart damage that can trigger certain heart arrhythmias.
Common triggers for an arrhythmia are viral illnesses, alcohol, tobacco, changes in posture, exercise, drinks containing caffeine, certain over-the-counter and prescribed medicines, and illegal recreational drugs.
Most of the time, an irregular heartbeat goes back to normal quickly and isn't a sign of a dangerous condition. But some types of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) happen because of serious conditions that can be life-threatening.
“If you have symptoms of lightheadedness, chest pain, or shortness of breath along with an irregular heart rhythm, then seek help immediately,” says Mitiku.
But while atrial fibrillation or AFib risk does go up as you age, this is one heart disorder that could hit at any point in life. Although the majority of AFib diagnoses happen over the age of 60, more and more young people – even teenagers and 20-somethings – are suffering from heart conditions.
When this impulse misbehaves or is disrupted, it can cause an arrhythmia, which affects how well your heart pumps blood to your body. Many experience some of the following symptoms: A pounding or fluttering sensation in their chest (known as palpitations) Lightheadedness or feeling faint.
Many people are unaware of minor irregular heartbeats, and even completely healthy people have extra or skipped heartbeats once in a while. Palpitations are more common as you age. Usually, these occasional arrhythmias are nothing to worry about.
Many arrhythmias are temporary and not life threatening. They can be caused by anxiety or consuming high amounts of alcohol or caffeine. In more serious cases, an abnormal heart rhythm can be a sign of heart disease or other medical conditions.
DON'T go overboard on alcohol
Alcohol is similar to caffeine — some people with irregular heartbeats can tolerate it, while others cannot. Erica tells patients, “Limit your alcoholic drinks to one to two per night, and drink even less if your arrhythmia is caused by a weakened heart or previous heart attack.”
Things like caffeine, alcohol and stress can cause small, temporary arrhythmias like PVCs. But there are factors that can cause permanent arrhythmias, too. Your arteries are highways for oxygen and nutrients. However, fat, cholesterol and calcium can build plaques in the arteries, causing coronary artery disease.
Heart Palpitations and Anxiety. Heart palpitations due to anxiety feel like your heart is racing, fluttering, pounding or skipping a beat. Your heartbeat can increase in response to specific stressful situations. You may also have palpitations due to an anxiety disorder (excessive or persistent worry).
Flecainide, sotalol (also a beta blocker) and amiodarone are also commonly prescribed for arrhythmias. They have the ability to terminate an arrhythmia and are usually given to prevent the abnormal rhythm from occurring or reduce its frequency or duration.
An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm, where the heart beats irregularly, too fast or too slowly. A palpitation is a short-lived feeling of your heart racing, fluttering, thumping or pounding in your chest. An occasional palpitation that does not affect your general health is not usually something to worry about.
Atrial fibrillation that goes undiagnosed or is left untreated can cause serious and even life-threatening complications, including stroke and heart failure. The most common symptom of atrial fibrillation is fatigue, or extreme tiredness.
Our advice is - if yours does identify an irregularity - you should see your doctor and explain what has happened. They will be able to determine whether you have the disorder, and refer you for an electrocardiogram if necessary.
Millions of people experience irregular or abnormal heartbeats, called arrhythmias, at some point in their lives. Most of the time, they are harmless and happen in healthy people free of heart disease.
To diagnose a heart arrhythmia, the doctor will usually do a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms. Tests may be done to confirm an irregular heartbeat and look for conditions that can cause arrhythmias, such as heart disease or thyroid disease.
An arrhythmia may be present all of the time or it may come and go. You may or may not feel symptoms when the arrhythmia is present. Or, you may only notice symptoms when you are more active. Symptoms can be very mild, or they may be severe or even life threatening.
firmly place the index and middle finger of your right hand on your left wrist, at the base of the thumb (between the wrist and the tendon attached to the thumb) using the second hand on a clock or watch, count the number of beats for 30 seconds, and then double that number to get your heart rate in beats per minute.
The good news is that although AF is a long-term condition, if managed correctly, you can continue to lead a long and active life. There are a number of steps you can take that will help you manage your condition, lower your risk of stroke and relieve any worries you may have.
Sometimes, it's just a single skipped beat, but arrhythmias can last minutes, hours, days and possibly years. Occasionally, the heart's electrical signals get caught in a little short-circuit loop.