Heart Palpitations Cures

Heart palpitations are a common condition. Palpitations may feel like pounding, racing, fluttering or a missed beat. They are usually harmless, appearing for brief intervals and disappearing. However, frequent palpitations are uncomfortable and can be cause for concern. To reduce or eliminate palpitations, it is necessary to identify their cause. This allows for proper treatment and quick elimination of the palpitations.

Stimulants

• Heart palpitations are often triggered by stimulants. The most common stimulants are caffeine and nicotine. Illegal drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines can also trigger palpitations. Palpitations caused by these stimulants disappear once stimulant usage stops.

Stress

• Anxiety and fear cause heart palpitations. To cut out stress-related palpitations, avoid situations that raise anxiety levels, and learn coping techniques for unavoidable stressors. Psychologists and clinical social workers teach coping techniques to deal with everyday stress.

Exercise

• During or after a strenuous workout, the heart may skip a beat. This type of palpitation occurs because of an increase in heart rate and quickly disappears as the heart rate decreases.

Hormones

• Hormonal fluctuations in women may cause palpitations. Pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause all cause these hormonal shifts. A menopausal women can request hormone therapy from her doctor to prevent these fluctuations. Palpitations related to hormone shifts disappear on their own once hormone levels stabilize.

Medicines

• Several medications cause heart palpitations by acting as stimulants. Asthma inhalers, thyroid medications and anti-arrhythmic medications are all prescription drugs that can trigger a palpitation. Talk to the prescribing physician to discuss alternatives to these medications if they cause palpitations. Over-the-counter medications such as decongestants and herbal and natural supplements can also lead to palpitations.

Conditions

• There are several medical conditions that cause palpitations. Doctors run a variety of tests including heart monitoring and blood work to rule out medical issues that cause heart palpitations. These issues include thyroid problems, dehydration, low electrolyte levels, anemia, fever, low blood pressure or abnormal blood sugars. Cardiovascular conditions that cause palpitations include arrhythmias, heart disease, heart valve problems or heart muscle problems. A cardiologist can diagnose and treat these problems.