Heart Palpitations, What To Do? Reasons, Medications

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Video: Heart Palpitations, What To Do? Reasons, Medications

Video: Heart Palpitations, What To Do? Reasons, Medications
Video: Have an Irregular Heart Rhythm? Here Are Ways to Get Your Heart Back On Track 2024, March
Heart Palpitations, What To Do? Reasons, Medications
Heart Palpitations, What To Do? Reasons, Medications
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Rapid heartbeat: what to do? Main reasons

Heart palpitations
Heart palpitations

Heart rate may vary depending on the person's age. In newborns, the heart beats 125-140 times per minute, by the age of 5-7 years this figure decreases and is 90 beats per minute. In adults, who do not suffer from cardiopathology and are in a calm state, the heart rate varies between 60-90 beats per minute.

Athletes have a heart rate of 40-60 beats per minute. For them, this indicator is normal. When a person gets older, the heart rate rises slightly again (up to 90-100 beats per minute).

Content:

  • Causes of rapid heartbeat
  • When is heart palpitations a sign of illness?
  • Symptoms of a rapid heartbeat
  • Rapid heart rate diagnostics
  • First aid for palpitations
  • Treatment methods
  • Supportive Home Therapy
  • Is it possible to quickly stop a heart attack?

Causes of rapid heartbeat

Normally, at rest, a person should not feel how his heart beats. An increase in heart rate above 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia.

Causes of rapid heartbeat
Causes of rapid heartbeat

If a person is healthy, then the reasons for its occurrence may be as follows:

  • Stressful situations in which a person becomes very anxious.
  • Intense physical activity.
  • Low oxygen content in the inhaled air.
  • High body temperature. Its increase even by 1 degree leads to the fact that the heart begins to beat faster.

All of these factors are not indicative of heart disease. The increase in its rhythm in this case is regarded as a physiological phenomenon.

Disruptions in the hormonal background are capable of provoking an increase in heart rate. This is true for women during menopause.

Sometimes the reason for the increased heart rate is food allergies, consuming large amounts of food, and consuming drinks with high levels of caffeine.

Heart palpitations caused by non-pathogenic causes are not accompanied by symptoms such as:

  • Blood pressure does not rise.
  • The heart doesn't hurt. There is no discomfort in the chest.
  • The person is not dizzy, his eyes do not darken.
  • The person does not lose consciousness.
  • The person does not have panic attacks.

If the heart begins to beat more often due to the influence of external factors on the body, then the normalization of its rhythm happens quickly, in just a few seconds. For this to happen, you just need to calm down.

If a person goes in for sports, then he needs to control his own heart rate and be able to measure the maximum possible heart rate. To do this, subtract the number of years from the number 220. For example, if a man is 40 years old, then during sports, the heart rate per minute should not exceed 180 beats.

When a person as a whole does not move much, then his heartbeat will increase with any load, for example, with a sharp rise from a place, with a change in body position. To prevent this from happening, you need to smoothly increase your physical activity, go in for sports.

Video: a cardiologist of the medical center "NEBOLIT" about a rapid pulse:

When is heart palpitations a sign of illness?

When heart palpitations
When heart palpitations

A rapid heartbeat may indicate certain pathologies in the cardiovascular system or in the hormonal background.

These include:

  • Manifesto of myocardial infarction, or pre-infarction state.
  • Myocardial dystrophy.
  • Vegeto-vascular dystonia at an early age. In this case, control over vascular tone is lost, which leads to an increase in heart rate.
  • Sinus tachycardia.
  • Blood pressure surges, high blood pressure.
  • Cardiosclerosis.
  • Congenital and acquired heart defects.
  • Heart block.
  • Neurological diseases.
  • Bleeding.
  • Dehydration of the body.
  • Hyperthyroidism of various nature.
  • Diseases of the digestive system: gastritis, ulcers, diaphragmatic hernia, etc.
  • Diseases of the respiratory system: obstructive bronchitis, bronchial asthma. Heart palpitations are often observed in patients taking drugs such as: Berodual, Salbutamol, Berotek, etc.
  • Intoxication of the body.
  • Anemia.
  • Acute infection or purulent pathology.
  • Tumor neoplasms of the brain and mediastinal system.
  • A shock state that can develop after an injury, against a background of bleeding, after a burn, etc.

There are symptoms that accompany a rapid heartbeat that occurs with various pathologies of the body:

  • The person begins to experience a lack of air, he develops shortness of breath.
  • He gets tired quickly.
  • The person often experiences dizziness.
  • Feelings of nausea may occur.

The fact that a rapid heartbeat is not a physiological reaction of the body, but a pathological symptom, will indicate the sudden onset of an attack and its rapid completion. During this period, the heart rate can reach 220-230 beats per minute.

If a woman is pregnant, then her heart rate normally rises by 10-15 beats per minute.

Symptoms of a rapid heartbeat

Symptoms of a rapid heartbeat
Symptoms of a rapid heartbeat

The symptoms of a rapid heartbeat largely depend on the cause that caused it, as well as on the individual characteristics of the body. Some patients describe this condition as mild chest discomfort, while others describe it as intense heartbeats, accompanied by heart jumps, flips, stops, etc. If the pulse quickens to 100 beats per minute or more, then people indicate a feeling of fluttering in the chest. In some cases, the heart beats often in people, but they do not notice it.

Heart palpitations occur as seizures. It can last for a few seconds or even a few days. It all depends on the cause of the violation.

What are the symptoms of a rapid heartbeat?

With VSD, in addition to a rapid heartbeat, a person will be in an increased psycho-emotional state. His tearfulness increases, he can show aggression. Somatic signs of the disease are headache, increased sweating, nausea and vomiting, low blood pressure. Often in these patients, a rapid heartbeat is accompanied by an attack of a panic attack.

With pathologies of the thyroid gland, a rapid heartbeat will be accompanied by increased sweating, trembling in the body, weight loss against the background of increased appetite. Patients develop exophthalmos.

Dangerous symptoms

Sometimes palpitations require immediate medical attention, as it carries a direct threat to life. You must immediately call a medical team if a person has chest pains against the background of tachycardia, between the shoulder blades, cold sweat appears, and shortness of breath occurs. Such signs indicate myocardial infarction.

Left ventricular heart failure of the acute type is accompanied by increased heart rate, dyspnea, shortness of breath, and pink foam at the mouth. Most often, an attack occurs at night, when blood stagnates in the veins of the lungs, edema and cardiac asthma develop.

If the heart beats irregularly, but often, then this may indicate atrial fibrillation or sick sinus syndrome. During an attack, the patient may lose consciousness. The danger of this pathology is reduced to cardiac arrest.

Immediately need to call a medical team with the development of ventricular tachycardia and frequent ventricular premature beats. These pathologies are manifested by an increased heart rate, increased sweating, darkening of the eyes and severe shortness of breath. The patient begins to choke.

So, an increased heart rate with shortness of breath, heart pains and other pathological symptoms is a reason for contacting a doctor. In some cases, medical assistance should be urgent.

Rapid heart rate diagnostics

If an increased heart rate is a physiological phenomenon, a person does not need to be examined. Pathological tachycardia is the reason for diagnosis.

The following methods can help to find out the reasons for the acceleration of the heart rate:

  • ECG. Determines the heart rate at the time of the diagnosis.
  • Holter daily heart rate monitoring. This study reveals how the pulse changes during exercise, at rest, with a slight increase in activity, during sleep.
Rapid heart rate diagnostics
Rapid heart rate diagnostics

Ultrasound of the heart, echocardiography. These studies can identify abnormalities in the work of the heart.

The patient who comes to the appointment is measured the level of blood pressure. Bicycle ergometry is also possible. at the same time, the person must exercise on an exercise bike. Special equipment will calculate his heart rate.

A rapid heartbeat can indicate not only heart disease, but also other pathologies of internal organs. Therefore, it will be necessary to donate blood for biochemical analysis, to determine the thyroid hormones in it.

First aid for palpitations

If a person's heart rate increases and the number of beats per minute exceeds 100, then one should not hesitate to call the medical team.

While the ambulance is en route, the following actions can be taken:

  • The patient can put his hands in cold water. Alternatively, it is allowed to wipe your face with a piece of ice.
  • You need to try to calm the person down.
  • A supply of fresh air must be provided. To do this, open the window, unfasten the collar, remove from the neck all objects that may hamper breathing.
  • You can offer a person 25-30 drops of Corvalol, Valoserdin or Valocordin to choose from.
  • If possible, the person's pulse and blood pressure should be measured.
  • The person should take a deep breath and hold his breath for a few seconds. It is important at this time to try to expand the chest. Then you need to make a slow exhalation. Repeat this exercise at least 6 times.
  • You can cough, or try to induce a gag reflex.
  • Use your fingers to press on the eyeballs. The pressure must be applied for 10 seconds, after which it is released. Repeat pressing 10-15 times.

These recommendations can improve the person's well-being and slightly lower the heart rate. The patient must be examined by a physician. The doctor will determine the cause of the disorder and prescribe treatment.

These guidelines allow
These guidelines allow

In order for the doctor to understand what is happening to the patient, he must receive answers to the following questions:

  • Is this the first attack in the patient, or do they recur regularly and with what frequency?
  • How long does the attack last?
  • What are the most common seizure times?

Treatment is prescribed only after the causes of heart palpitations are established.

Heart palpitations are not an independent pathology, that is, it does not arise by itself. An attack of tachycardia is caused by various diseases that can be established during diagnostic measures. If such crises occur frequently, the doctor may recommend adrenergic blocking drugs or calcium channel blocking drugs.

Treatment methods

Treatment methods
Treatment methods

To cope with the disease, it is necessary not only to take medications, but also to quit smoking, lead a healthy lifestyle, and play sports. The person will need to control the level of blood pressure and blood cholesterol.

During an attack of rapid heartbeat, you need to take a sedative. It can be Valerian, Motherwort, Validol, Hawthorn, Valocordin, Corvalol. A person needs peace, both physical and psychological.

Drugs that the doctor can prescribe:

  • Sedatives. They can be based on herbal ingredients (Persen, Novo-Passit). Synthetic drugs have a pronounced effect: Phenobarbital, Diazepam.
  • Antiarrhythmic drugs: Verapamil, Flecainide, Adenosine, etc.

Sedatives are prescribed for patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia. They reduce the number of seizures and stabilize the nervous system.

Antiarrhythmics can only be taken after medical advice. The drugs are selected by a cardiologist, since they have not only a therapeutic effect, but also have a number of side effects.

If a patient is diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, then such drugs as Obsidan, Lidocaine are recommended for admission. If they do not allow to stop the attack, then they are treated with electrical impulses.

In addition to a cardiologist, a person will need to consult with a neurologist. Sometimes patients are prescribed not only sedatives, but also psychotherapy, for example, hypnosis or massage sessions. Eye massage is indicated to increase the tone of the vagus nerve.

Severe pathologies that lead to a rapid heartbeat require surgical intervention:

  • Pheochromocytoma, thyrotoxicosis. In these conditions, the doctor can remove both the tumor and part of the thyroid gland.
  • Cardiac surgery is required for patients with heart defects and coronary artery disease.

Video: Life is great! Frequent heartbeat. How to calm your heart?

Supportive Home Therapy

tablets
tablets

Heart palpitations cannot be treated on their own. However, if a person is predisposed to such attacks, you need to be able to help yourself.

In addition to taking medications, you can use the following recommendations:

  • Lead a measured lifestyle.
  • Avoid stress, allocate sufficient time to rest.
  • Engage in physiotherapy exercises.
  • Exercise every morning.
  • Eat right, give up fatty foods, do not drink tea, soda, coffee, chocolate.
  • Take a contrast shower, douche your feet.
  • Bring body weight back to normal.
  • Take vitamins.

If a person is prone to heart palpitations occurring in the type of seizures, excessive physical exertion should be avoided. They can lead to the formation of blood clots.

Diet is an essential component of treatment. Every day a person should eat fortified foods: vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, nuts. It is imperative to include dried apricots, fresh watermelons, potatoes, currants, beets, raspberries, citrus fruits in the diet.

After a medical consultation, it is permissible to take magnesium preparations. In case of a sudden attack, lightly massage the right side of the neck, in the place where the carotid artery passes. This will prevent heart palpitations and crises.

Is it possible to quickly stop a heart attack?

There are two simple guidelines that can be used to quickly cope with a pounding heart rate:

  • Dip your face into cold water. The heart begins to beat less frequently, as the body cools. This is a powerful method that is available to most people. If you don't have a container for a collection of liquid at hand, then you can simply rinse your face with cool water or wipe it with ice cubes.
  • Perform the Valsalva maneuver. The person will need to take a deep breath and tighten the abdominal muscles. The nose is clamped with two fingers, the mouth and eyes are closed. In this state, one should try to exhale. In parallel, the muscles of the press are strained.

All these methods can be used in the case when the increase in heart rate was provoked by physiological factors. If during an attack, chest pains appear and shortness of breath develops, then you need to seek help from a doctor.

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The author of the article: Molchanov Sergey Nikolaevich | Cardiologist

Education: Diploma in "Cardiology" received at the PMGMU. I. M. Sechenov (2015). Here I completed my postgraduate studies and received a diploma "Cardiologist".

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