How to stop heart palpitations?

July 1, 2022

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Heart palpitations are frequent, but they might be alarming because you don’t generally pay attention to your heartbeat. It’s typical for the sensation of a racing or pounding heart to pass quickly and is not a cause for concern. You might be able to prevent heart palpitations and have it under your control.

Heart Palpitation

Heart palpitations are the sensation of your heart racing, pounding, or skipping beats. In addition, you may experience chest, throat, or neck palpitations.

Even while you are sleeping or engaging in routine activities, palpitations might strike at any time. Palpitations are typically not dangerous or damaging, despite the fact that they might be frightening. They may, however, occasionally be connected to a heart rhythm disorder that requires medical intervention.

Certain aspects of one’s lifestyle may cause heart palpitations. However, a less frequent cause is an underlying medical problem.

Heart palpitations may be stopped by addressing the lifestyle cause or treating the underlying illness.

Causes of Heart Palpitation

Although sometimes there is no known cause, these factors may contribute to heart palpitations:

Emotions like stress, worry, panic, and fear
Exercise
Pregnancy
Caffeine
Thyroid disease
Low sugar, potassium, and oxygen levels
Low blood carbon dioxide levels
Fever
Anaemia
Dehydration
Loss of blood
Medicines for colds and coughs
Several herbal and dietary supplement
Alcohol

The good news is that having a rapid heartbeat does not always indicate that you have a cardiac issue. The following are some examples of factors that can make your heart work harder and produce palpitations:

stress illness dehydration exercise

Other potential factors include pregnancy, caffeine, and other health issues, some narcotics, illicit substances, and tobacco products.

How long do heart palpitations last?

Heart palpitations often disappear quickly. However, they could sometimes endure a few seconds or even a few minutes.

Diagnosis of Heart Palpitation

Keep a record of your heartbeats. Keep this in mind:

When they take place.
Duration of each.
How you are feeling.
Your actions when they first begin

When you next see your primary care physician, bring this log. Your healthcare provider will review these particulars, together with other details.

Medical background
Symptoms
Diet
You consume prescription drugs and natural supplements.
Your heart and lungs will be monitored by your doctor as well.

You might require tests like:

A blood test.
Testing urine.
(ECG/EKG) Electrocardiogram.
Chest X-ray
Stress test
Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound).

After you return home, you might need to wear a monitor so your doctor can learn more about your heart and your symptoms. An electrophysiological study and a cardiac catheterisation are further tests to look for a heart condition.

Home remedies for Heart Palpitation

Here are the ten ways you can manage heart palpitations at home.

Relaxation methods

Heart palpitations can start or get worse under stress. This is so that your adrenaline doesn’t increase under stress or excitement. Relaxing can aid in stress management. among the top choices are
- Tai chi
- Meditation
- Yoga
Sit cross-legged and take a few calm, deep breaths in through your nose and out of your mouth. Continue until you feel at ease.
Not just when your heart is racing or palpitations strike, but all during the day, you should concentrate on relaxing.
Every one to two hours, pause and take five deep breaths to help you relax and settle your mind.

The relaxing methods listed below may be helpful for certain people:

Take short breaks from work or school to practise yoga
Deep breathing
Journaling
Exercising

Vagal exercises

The vagus nerve has a variety of functions, one of which is to link the heart and brain. In addition, vagal manoeuvres activate the vagus nerve, which may assist in controlling a rapid heartbeat. The vagus nerve can be activated at home, but only with a doctor’s permission.

Here are some techniques for activating the nerve:

Apply a cold towel or ice pack to your face for 20 to 30 seconds, take a cold shower, or sprinkle cold water on it. The cold water’s “shock” aids in stimulating the nerve.
Bear down or hold your breath as if you have a bowel movement.

Perform these exercises while lying on your back for the best benefits.

Hydrate

Heart palpitations may result from dehydration. Because your blood contains water, it might get thicker when dehydrated. As a result, your heart must work harder to pump blood through your veins, which can cause palpitations.

Grab a glass of water if you notice an increase in your heart rate. Drink more fluids if you find your urine is a dark yellow colour to avoid heart palpitations.

Valsalva exercises

If your heart is pounding too quickly, you can use the Valsalva manoeuvre, a breathing method, to slow it down.

Do the following activities to do a Valsalva manoeuvre:

Pinch your nose.
Your mouth should be closed.
Try to breathe out.
As if having a bowel movement, bear down.

For 10 to 15 seconds, carry out these steps.

Eat a Balanced diet

A wholesome, well-balanced diet includes:

Fresh produce, vegetables, and grains
Healthy fats from fish or nuts
Whole grains
Lean proteins

Limit these foods to reduce your risk of developing cardiac issues:

The saturated fats
Trans fat
Prepared or packaged foods with salt and sugar

No Alcohol

Do not consume alcohol in excess. Since alcohol is a depressant, it does not usually increase the heart rate; heart rate is not usually increased by it.

Even though consuming alcohol in moderation is generally not harmful, some evidence suggests that even 1.2 alcoholic drinks per day can raise the risk of atrial fibrillation. A sign of this illness is heart palpitations.