what is the cause of a rapid heartbeat and what should a heartbeat rate of a 33 year old healthy woman be?

Answer 1

For regular episodes of palpitation, keep a record of the speed, character, and context in which they occur. Such a record can help clarify the cause. Visit a health care provider for other symptoms such as light-headedness, shortness of breath, or weakness. These symptoms could indicate a life-threatening arrhythmia.

At times, palpitations can be linked with increased stress or use of caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, or certain medications. Eliminating these factors can help decrease or even eliminate symptoms.

You can take your own pulse.


* Place your fingertips on either side of your neck just under the angle of your jaw for the carotid artery pulsation. Feel for the slight movement, or heartbeats, under the skin. Another pulse point is at the base of the thumb, an inch or 2 away from the palm, up the underside of the arm. This is the radial artery pulsation.


* Count every beat for 30 seconds and double that number. That is your pulse in heart beats per minute. Note if the beats are regular or irregular and if a pattern is present.

* In very fast arrhythmias, the pulse will probably not be the same as the heart rate. The pulse is usually slower than the heart rate because the heart does not have enough time between beats to fill up with blood and pump it out. In this event, immediate medical attention is necessary. If you are having palpitations but your pulse is in the normal range, call your health care provider.

Answer 2

The cause of a rapid heartbeat can be anything from dehydration, caffeine, recreational drugs, stress, exercise, adrenaline, cardiac abnormalities, lung problems, altitude, etc.


The heartbeat of a healthy adult is 60-100 beats per minute while sitting or resting, in general, athletes of good health have a lower heart rate because their cardiac output at rest doesn't require a higher heart rate, and a heart rate of 50 beats per minute in marathon runners at rest is not unheard of.

In general, younger people have faster heartrates within the "normal" range. If I have a 19 year old patient with a resting pulse of 92, I'm a lot less concerned than if I have a 90 year old patient with a resting pulse of 92.

For myself personally, at age 24, my resting pulse is in the low eighties, and I consider it completely normal... I'll drop down into the 70's and high 60's when I'm asleep.



If you are concerned about your heart rate for any reason, you should consider being checked out by a doctor or other healthcare professional.



Good luck.

Answer 3

Normal resting heartrate should be about 68-72 beats a min.

I don't know where the guy came up with 6 beats per 15 sec, that would be 24 beats a min. Athletes resting heart rates don't usually go below 40 beats a min. At 24 you would be in serious trouble.

Answer 4

70-90 beats per minute is okay for a woman her age. some causes of rapid heartbeat:
1. apprehension/nervousness/fear
2. if you are having excercise like running
3. some kinds of allergies
4. fever
5. heart pathologies

Answer 5

Approx. 6 beats per fifteen sec. is normal any higher than this and your fitness probably needs improving a little. Rapid heartbeat could mean any number of things a GP should check you out if you are concerned about it.