| Palpitations occur when a person can feel | | | | the healthcare provider, physical examination is not that |
| abnormalities in the normal beating of the heart. These | | | | helpful. The healthcare provider will likely check vital |
| palpitations can be an isolated extra beat, or they can | | | | signs like pulse and blood pressure and look for signs |
| run together and last for prolonged periods of time. | | | | of underlying physical problems, such as a goiter |
| Each part of the heart has the potential to be irritable | | | | (enlarged thyroid gland in the neck) and listen to the |
| and cause an extra beat to occur. As well, short | | | | heart to check for abnormal sounds like clicks or |
| circuits in the electrical conduction system of the heart | | | | murmurs. |
| can cause "runs" of abnormal firing. | | | | Any rapid heartbeat (or tachycardia) can give rise to |
| Palpitations are common consequence of anxiety, lack | | | | this feeling. A rapid, regular fluttering in the chest may |
| of sleep, certain medicines, caffeine, or too much | | | | be associated with sensation of pounding in the neck |
| heavy exercise. They also may be a sign of heart | | | | as well, due to simultaneous contraction of the upper, |
| disease or some other diseases that affects heart or | | | | priming chambers of the heart (the atria) and the |
| other part of the body. Palpitations usually occur when | | | | lower, main pumping chambers (the ventricle). If the |
| something disrupts the normal electrical activity or | | | | fluttering in the chest feels very irregular, then it is likely |
| function of heart. Palpitations could occur when the | | | | that the underlying rhythm is atrial fibrillation. |
| heart is beating quickly, slowly, or irregularly. | | | | Treatment depends on what is causing the palpitations, |
| Heart palpitations are sensations that feel like pounding | | | | your symptoms, and other health problems you may |
| or racing. Sometimes it feels like your heart skipped or | | | | have. If your palpitations cause few symptoms and |
| stopped beats. Palpitations can be felt in your chest, | | | | you are healthy, you may not need any treatment. |
| throat, or neck. If you have heart palpitations, you | | | | You may need to make lifestyle changes, such as |
| should contact your doctor to make sure it is not | | | | decreasing stress and avoiding alcohol and caffeine. |
| caused by a serious condition. Your doctor will perform | | | | Do not smoke or use tobacco products. Work with |
| tests to determine the cause and whether the heart | | | | your caregiver to find the right exercise program for |
| palpitations are treatable or not. | | | | you. Do not exercise longer or harder than your |
| Specific types of palpitations may be due to structural | | | | caregiver has told you to. If your symptoms bother |
| abnormalities in the heart. Narrowing of the coronary | | | | you or you have other health problems, you may need |
| arteries that causes a decreased blood supply to the | | | | other treatments. |
| heart muscle can cause irritability and abnormal heart | | | | The treatment required for eliminating or reducing the |
| beats like premature ventricular contractions, ventricular | | | | frequency and severity of palpitations depends entirely |
| tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation. Structural wiring | | | | on the cause. Often a short period of rest and |
| abnormalities can cause paroxysmal supraventricular | | | | rejuvenation will be enough to calm the feeling of a |
| tachycardias or Wolfe-Parkinson-White syndrome. | | | | racing, thumping heart, or sometimes following a stress |
| Unless the palpitations are occurring during the visit to | | | | reduction programme can prove useful. |