2006-08-20 11:04:57 · 9 answers · asked by . 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
and do they happen more frequently over time? Am I stuck with them, when I get them they are pretty frightening?
2006-08-20 11:08:17 · update #1
Palpitations is a very vague term. Many, if not most, people have some irregular beats during the day, most frequent premature ventricular contractures (PVC's). Hardly anyone is even aware that these are happening, though some people complain of a momentary "empty" feeling followed by a very brief period of forceful heartbeat. Several abnormal heartbeats in a row may be a sign of a problem, though evaluation often reveals nothing amiss aside from the rhythm itself.
The normal workup involves an EKG, and possibly a Holter monitor. The holter records the rhythm over a period of time, from 24 hours to as much as a week.
If these are abnormal, it may be necessary to do a heart cath, or an electrophysiology study. The EP study takes recording from inside the heart and can find oscure reasons for arrythmias that have been previously undiagnosed.
If you have arrythmias that you are consistently aware of, you need to be worked up. Many times it will be nothing, but may be serious, even at a young age.
2006-08-20 11:25:23 · answer #1 · answered by Bufford M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with sanmaria.
Palpitations are most often an anxiety phenomenon. Your heart beats constantly (I'd hope it does) and you normally don't feel it because you have desensitized yourself.
In an anxiety state, where your sensitivities are heightened, people will often complain of palpitations (as well as noises and skin and visceral sensations).
In most cases, palpitations are not associated with an actual abnormality of the heart beat. In some cases, however, it is.
The best thing if you have palpitations is to calm yourself down and then to go and see your doctor. Apart from an ECG (or EKG to you yanks), doctor can order a test called a "Holter monitor" which is a portable device which records your heart electrical impulses. It can also record when you feel palpitations if you push a little button. That way the cardiologists are able to see if you are feeling palpitations at the same time as your heart is having an arrhythmia. Sometimes the arrhythmia is evident straight away on the ECG.
What happens from now depends a bit on what is causing the palpitation or arrhythmia and what can be done to treat the cause.
If you are stressed or anxious and this can be fixed, your palpitations should settle for the time being.
If you have an arrhythmia and the doctors can fix it with medicine or special techniques (pacemaker, electrophysiological study and cautery of an aberrant pathway etc.) then your troubles might be over.
2006-08-20 11:18:24 · answer #2 · answered by Orinoco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are not "normal" but not a danger to you if you are in good health. If that's you, it's probably anxiety which can make you feel like you are having a hear attack.
If you were in poor health, then there may be an underlying hear condition and that is not good. That would probably require mediacal attention.
If this is something that you have never had looked at you should see your family doctor, just to rule anything out. If you have seen your dr. then try and relax. Maybe you need dome help with anxiety and stress. Try to make a not of when and where it's happening and under what cirumstances.
2006-08-20 11:13:19 · answer #3 · answered by calliew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Palpitations are often not serious. However, it depends on whether or not the sensations represent an abnormal heart rhythm (called an arrhythmia). You are more likely to have an abnormal heart rhythm if you have:
Known heart disease at the time the palpitations begin
Significant risk factors for heart disease
An abnormal heart valve
An electrolyte abnormality -- for example, low potassium
2006-08-20 11:12:34 · answer #4 · answered by sanmaria 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have palpitations when I am tired, drink too much caffeine, eat too much, get overly excited etc. I also know of 2 or 3 other women who do the same darn thing. I cannot work nite shift because when I get overly tired, I feel like my heart will jump right out of normal.. Lots of people do this. Why? I am not really sure, but they do.
2006-08-20 12:59:30 · answer #5 · answered by happydawg 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Uh, you shouldn't be able to feel a palpitation unless your taking your pulse. If you know your palpitating, you may want to see your doctor
2006-08-20 11:11:25 · answer #6 · answered by brad4ever 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No that is a sign of heart disease see you doc
2006-08-20 11:10:08 · answer #7 · answered by Right Wing Extremist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try to decrease caffeine a day or two and see if they decrease
2006-08-20 11:11:14 · answer #8 · answered by jeff s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they don't kill you.
2006-08-20 11:15:35 · answer #9 · answered by Erin the ROCKSTAR! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋