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Heart Palpitations Vs. Atriofibrulation

Atrial fibrillation is a disorder of the heart's electrical system. It makes the upper chambers (atria) of the heart quiver uncontrollably. Blood can pool and clot in the atria, leading to stroke or heart failure. A racing heartbeat (palpitations) is one sign of atrial fibrillation. Not all palpitations, however, are due to atrial fibrillation.

  1. Atrial Fibrillation

    • Electrical signals inside the heart make it beat in a steady, coordinated way. When these signals fire wildly, atrial fibrillation occurs. The atria contract irregularly and incompletely. Pieces of clotted blood can break away, blocking arteries in the brain and causing a stroke. Eventually, heart failure can occur.

    Heart Palpitations

    • Heart palpitations feel as if the heart is pounding or racing. It may seem to skip a beat or flutter. The heart seems to pump too hard or fast. They can happen whether a person is active or at rest, standing, seated or lying down. Palpitations by themselves usually aren't serious.

    Causes

    • Heart palpitations can be set off by stimulants such as coffee, nicotine, cocaine, diet pills or medicines, including some asthma medicines and cold medications with pseudoephedrine. Exercise, anxiety, fear, an overactive thyroid, heart disease, anemia (a lack of iron in the blood), too little oxygen in the blood or a damaged mitral heart valve may also cause palpitations.

      Atrial fibrillation is triggered by changes in the heart due to high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, lung diseases such as emphysema or disorders of the heart's natural pacemaker.

    Treatment

    • Palpitations usually go away with time. A doctor should check out heart palpitations that are new, severe or keep coming back. Recording when they occur, how long they last, what the heart rate is at the time and the circumstances when they happen help a doctor find their cause.

      Atrial fibrillation is a serious, sometimes fatal, condition. It can be treated with medicines, electrical shock or surgery such as inserting a pacemaker to regulate the heartbeat. People with atrial fibrillation are usually given blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke.

    Warning

    • Call 911 right away if a person having heart palpitations feels dizzy, lightheaded or faints, has shortness of breath, chest pain or unusual sweating.

      A person with heart palpitations should see a doctor right away if she is having frequent extra heart beats (six or more a minute or clusters of three or more heartbeats at a time), a pulse rate of more than 100 beats a minute without exercise, anxiety or a fever.

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