Types of Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations are felt after the heart skips a beat or rapidly flutters. A heart palpitation also occurs when the heart beats too fast or too slow. The patient feels tightness in the chest area, but the feelings can also happen in the throat or neck. If heart palpitations are diagnosed in a patient, there are several types and causes. The doctor will prescribe medications and lifestyle changes to help control the symptoms and heartbeat.

Arrhythmia

• Arrhythmia are abnormal heart rhythms that cause the heart to beat too fast, slow or irregularly. Some arrhythmias are asymptomatic and produce few health problems. Arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation are more serious. With this condition, the patient's heart is unable to pump blood properly from the atria to the ventricles. This allows blood to pool in the heart, which can lead to blood clot formation and possible stroke.

Heart Attack

• A heart attack occurs when blood vessels that feed the heart tissue are blocked. The blockage is caused by a buildup of plaque, which is a fatty substance. The plaque causes coronary heart disease and eventual death of heart cells. The death of cells cause the heart to beat irregularly. Heart attacks are serious and require emergency medical care.

Heart Failure

• Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle becomes weak. The weakness in the muscle causes palpitations from its inability to contract regularly. The condition can occur in one or both ventricles. Depending on the area of the heart affected, heart failure symptoms include fluid in the extremities or poor breathing.

Heart Valve Disease

• Heart valve disease causes palpitations from the mitral and tricuspid valve failure. These valves control the blood flow from the atria to the ventricles. When these valves become diseased or damaged, blood flow is disturbed and palpitations can arise. It also causes poor blood circulation.

Premature Heartbeats

• Premature heartbeats are minor palpitation problems that don't normally need medical attention. These heartbeats are caused by excessive exercise or too much coffee or caffeine. When premature heartbeats occur, the patient may feel a tightness or flutter in the the chest cavity.