Heart palpitations feel like the heart is skipping beats or adding extra beats. People also describe sensations of the heart fluttering, racing, or pounding. They often become acutely aware of their heartbeat and feel that it is more pronounced in the throat, neck, or chest than usual. The heart rhythm has also been noted to change while the palpitations are occurring.
The majority of heart palpitations are benign and subside without any medical intervention (Raviele, 2011).
Many of the common causes of palpitations include:
• strenuous exercise
• caffeine and nicotine
• stress and anxiety
• panic and fear
• dehydration
• hormonal and electrolyte imbalances
• low blood sugar
• anemia and blood loss
• hyperthyroidism
• low levels of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the blood
• shock or fever
• cold and cough medications, herbal supplements, and nutritional supplements
• beta-blockers, asthma inhalers, decongestants and other pharmaceuticals
• illegal stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines
• heart disease, arrhythmias and abnormal heart valves (Raviele, 2011)
Heart palpitations can be indicators of an illness if they are accompanied by an arrhythmia, heart disease, heart disease risk factors or a defective heart valve and these …show more content…
The next diagnostic step would be to order a 12 lead ECG, and if warranted by this exam, subsequent Holter monitoring (Gutierrez & Blanchard, 2016). Blood tests (CBC, CMP, TSH) should be ordered to rule out thyroid issues or other substances in the blood that could be causing atrial fibrillation (Gutierrez & Blanchard, 2016). X-ray images would help indicate the condition of the lungs and heart and could assist in diagnosing pulmonary conditions other than atrial fibrillation that might explain the
The majority of heart palpitations are benign and subside without any medical intervention (Raviele, 2011).
Many of the common causes of palpitations include:
• strenuous exercise
• caffeine and nicotine
• stress and anxiety
• panic and fear
• dehydration
• hormonal and electrolyte imbalances
• low blood sugar
• anemia and blood loss
• hyperthyroidism
• low levels of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the blood
• shock or fever
• cold and cough medications, herbal supplements, and nutritional supplements
• beta-blockers, asthma inhalers, decongestants and other pharmaceuticals
• illegal stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines
• heart disease, arrhythmias and abnormal heart valves (Raviele, 2011)
Heart palpitations can be indicators of an illness if they are accompanied by an arrhythmia, heart disease, heart disease risk factors or a defective heart valve and these …show more content…
The next diagnostic step would be to order a 12 lead ECG, and if warranted by this exam, subsequent Holter monitoring (Gutierrez & Blanchard, 2016). Blood tests (CBC, CMP, TSH) should be ordered to rule out thyroid issues or other substances in the blood that could be causing atrial fibrillation (Gutierrez & Blanchard, 2016). X-ray images would help indicate the condition of the lungs and heart and could assist in diagnosing pulmonary conditions other than atrial fibrillation that might explain the