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Palpitation - irregular heart beat

October 12th, 2006 by postmaster

Palpitations can be caused by stress, fatigue, or overuse of alcohol or stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine, and they usually are not a serious problem.

Heart palpitations can feel like:

There is a pounding or fluttering in the chest.
The heart is doing a flip-flop.
The heart is skipping or missing a beat.
The heart is racing.
There is an extra heartbeat.
The heart is beating in the neck.

Palpitations are unpleasant sensations of irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart. In some patients with palpitations, no heart disease or abnormal heart rhythms can be found. Reasons for their palpitations are unknown. In others, palpitations result from abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Arrhythmias refer to heartbeats that are too slow, too rapid, irregular, or too early. Rapid arrhythmias (greater than 100 beats per minute) are called tachycardias. Slow arrhythmias (slower than 60 beats per minute) are called bradycardias. Irregular heart rhythms are called fibrillations (as in atrial fibrillation). When a single heartbeat occurs earlier than normal, it is called a premature contraction. Abnormalities in the atria, the ventricles, the SA node, and the AV node of the heart can lead to arrhythmias.

10 Responses to “Palpitation - irregular heart beat”

  1. on 20 Feb 2007 at 10:32 pm1 natasha

    thank you for the information provided i have had palpitations for a few weeks now and i have just had a holter test for 24hrs it picked up that i had 5 pauses during well half the time because the battery in the recorder played up so it only recorded for half the time. They want to do the test again. But i was wondering do you know if 5 pauses greater then 2.5 seconds (one was recorded at 4.4sec) in about 12 hours is anything to be concerned about?

  2. on 22 Feb 2007 at 4:45 pm2 postmaster

    You are welcome Natasha!

    I am sorry as I couldn’t provide much information on what you were asking, your doctor should be able to tell correctly.

    These two links might be of some help:
    http://www.ohiohealth.com/body.cfm?id=1039
    http://www.medhelp.org/forums/cardio/messages/32954.html

    Few months I had palpitations myself (during the time I wrote this article) and doing better now. These are the things I did to reduce my stress as well to change life style.

    1. Pranayama - Breathing exercise in morning for 10mins
    2. Healthy foods - check on Carbs/Calories.
    3. Walking/Jogging (this I did after a while and
    continuing)
    4. No more coffee’s
    5. Tried not to get stressed and relaxed whenever
    possible.
    6. Watched comedy movies and listened to songs that I
    like most.
    7. If you smoke - stop it with the help of Nicotin
    Patch.

    Still sometimes due to the nature of my work: pressure, tension, stress is inevitable and because of that sometimes I get flushing/palpitations in the heart, but doctor mentioned that it is due to anxiety/stress. The most important factor of all is self-healing and I am believing that I will overcome this.

    You will definitely become okay, just try to do things which you like the most that doesn’t stress you and you will be all healthy in no time. If there is anything that I could do, please do write to me.

    Regards,
    Shiva

  3. on 26 Feb 2007 at 7:46 pm3 strchf88

    well what if u dont change ur life syle..would it be fatal …can u die from palpatation???

  4. on 27 Feb 2007 at 12:06 am4 postmaster

    I don’t know as I am not a doctor, but was a patient myself. I am feeling better after stopping coffee totally and by doing things which makes me feel and do good.

  5. on 07 Apr 2007 at 5:55 pm5 sam benny

    I had an irregular heart beat about ten years ago. my doctor didn’t seem concerned about it, nor did he give me medication.
    it has started up again, with two to three beats missing within a minute. should I be concerned??
    I do not drink, smoke or consume regular coffee. I am 76 years old

  6. on 14 May 2007 at 7:31 pm6 postmaster

    Hi Sam,

    Please consult with your doctor, it could be nothing.

    Regards,
    Shiva

  7. on 19 Jun 2007 at 9:46 am7 eboni

    my niece is having where her heart skips too many times what does this mean will she need surgery?

  8. on 19 Jun 2007 at 12:00 pm8 postmaster

    Hi Eboni,

    Please talk with a doctor, take your niece for a regualar check up.

    Regards,
    Shiva

  9. on 23 Aug 2007 at 7:59 am9 Jayne

    I have read all your emails about heart palpitations and it makes me feel better that a lot of people go through the same thing as me.I have had heart palpitations for 12 years now. I had every heart test and my heart was also normal. You feel like your going to die when you have them. I just don’t understand why they happen to me. I guess it is something we all have to overcome. Thank you for making me feel like I’m not alone.

  10. on 02 Dec 2007 at 11:17 pm10 miguel

    hi my name is miguel and i think i have palpitations or irrigular heart beats i saw my doctor i got a ekg and i still was not satisfied so i got a echo done they said my heart looks fine and nothin is wrong with it i still feel like somthing might be wrong im 19 years old

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