Experiencing Heart Palpitation? Know Its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

A mere blip in the heartline can become a stressful condition. While chronic diseases are rising, there are other minor heart-related concerns that you should not ignore. One such condition – heart palpitations – is rising increasingly among people, especially youngsters and mid-age people. 

In this article, we help you understand what are heart palpitations, their causes, symptoms, and remedies to ensure a healthy heart, always. 

What is Heart Palpitation?

A palpitating heart refers to an unusual heartbeat or rhythm. Heart palpitation may feel like your heart is beating fast, skipping a beat, or beating excessively. Contrary to belief, heart palpitations can happen to anyone, anytime– whether at rest or in movement. Not only heart patients, healthy individuals, too can experience heart palpitation due to certain medications or other conditions. 

This means that heart palpitations are not severe and harmful in every case. However, in some rare cases, a palpitating heart can be a reason for chronic conditions that may need medical attention. 

Look Out for These 4 Signs and Symptoms of Heart Palpitation

5 Causes of Palpitation in the Heart

A weak heart is a red flag that signals an unhealthy lifestyle. Especially in the case of heart palpitation, most of the time, it is due to poor well-being and lifestyle choices, such as:

Excessive Smoking and Alcohol Consumption: Avid smokers and drinkers may experience heart palpitation more frequently than non-smokers and teetotallers. 

Frequent Consumption of Caffeine: Beverages like tea, coffee, and sugary drinks – if consumed every day – can cause irregular heartbeats in some sensitive body types. 

Higher Stress and Anxiety Levels: Tension and mental stress can trigger a flip-flopping feeling in the heart while also increasing the heart rate abnormally.

Pregnancy, Periods, or Menopause: Given the increased amount of blood circulation and strain during pregnancy, it is common for women to feel a racing heart. Similarly, hormonal changes during menstruation and menopause can trigger heart palpitation.

Strenuous Exercise: Rigorous exercise and pushing your body’s physical limitations in the gym can cause people to feel a pounding heart. 

Besides, certain medications and stimulants can also be a reason behind abnormal heartbeats and palpitations. 

When Should You Worry About Heart Palpitation?

Although heart palpitation is harmless in most cases, you should consult a physician if the problem continues for a long time or worsens. Also, you should undergo tests if you experience discomfort in the chest and severe breathing difficulty.

>> Also Read: The Signs of Heart Attack and How to Manage it?

How to Stop Heart Palpitation?

Given the lifestyle causes behind heart palpitation, it is possible to prevent abnormal heart beating by improving your way of life. Below are the ways to stop heart palpitation:

1. Quit Smoking and Drug Abuse

Eliminating your tobacco and drug intake will not only help you in managing regular heartbeats but also improves your overall health. Studies prove that the life expectancy of smokers is almost 10 years shorter than that of non-smokers. So, if you wish to live a long life with a healthy heart, cutting back on tobacco is a good start. 

2. Cut Down on Alcohol and Caffeine

Metering your alcohol and caffeine intake and lowering it eventually makes your heart healthier in the long run. As advised by experts, an adult of legal drinking age should consume no more than one alcoholic drink of 15-30 ml per day. Moderate consumption of alcohol not only lowers the risk of heart disease but also improves good cholesterol levels in some cases. 

3. Avoid Stressful Living Conditions

Stress, anxiety, and mental disturbance may cause your heartbeat to feel fluttering, pounding, or beating irregularly. Usually, heart palpitations due to anxiety are not as harmful, given that heartbeats become regular once the person stabilises. The best way to cope with clinical anxiety is to avoid stressful conditions and seek psychotherapy and medicinal treatment.

4. Try Breathing Exercises and Yoga

Getting into a physically active routine is always beneficial to the body. Studies suggest that exercising for at least 150 minutes every week can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases. However, if you are a heart patient experiencing heart palpitation, you should consult your cardiologist before practising any strenuous exercises.

Besides, you should try simple breathing exercises like deep breathing and pranayam to control your heartbeat instantly. 

5. Say No to Processed and High Cholesterol Foods

The more balanced diet you consume, the healthier your heart becomes. If you experience heart palpitations, you should consume a diet loaded with fresh fruits, fibrous vegetables, and lean proteins. On the other hand, high-carbohydrate foods such as bread, milk, soft drinks, and other energy drinks are food to avoid if you have heart palpitations.

Diagnosing Heart Palpitation Early with Care Heart Mediclaim Policy

However harmless, frequent heart palpitations are a matter of concern that you must diagnose in time. At Care Insurance, we offer a dedicated Heart Mediclaim Insurance Policy covering people against critical heart-related diseases and conditions. The policy offers coverage for pre and post-hospitalisation expenses, ambulance cover, in-patience care, day-care treatments, no-claim bonus, dialysis cover, global coverage, and more. The best part– the plan offers free annual health check-ups, including essential body diagnostics like CBC, urine routine, KFT, LFT, etc. 

So, keep your heart young and healthy to enjoy life stress-free with Care Health Insurance.

Disclaimer: The above information is for reference only. Kindly consult your physician for a detailed diagnosis. Also, verify the policy benefits with the official prospectus.