What Is Heart Palpitation (Tachycardia)?
Heart palpitation/tachycardia refers to the heart beating at a fast or irregular rhythm, with a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute. The normal heart rate for an average adult ranges between 60–100 beats per minute, and during sleep, the heart rate may drop below this range.
The heart has an electrical conduction system similar to an electrical network. Signals originating in the heart travel through specific pathways and are transmitted to cardiac muscle cells, enabling the heart to contract. Disruptions in this normal conduction system can occur for many reasons, and congenital accessory pathways may create short circuits in conduction, leading to tachycardia. Additionally, abnormal electrical impulses may arise from areas outside the heart’s primary conduction center, resulting in rapid heartbeats.
What Causes Heart Palpitations?
Known causes include genetic factors (congenital conduction pathways, family history of heart disease, sudden cardiac death), stress, thyroid disorders, poor diet (high-cholesterol foods, excessive carbohydrate or protein intake), smoking, alcohol, drug use, sedentary lifestyle, excessive exercise, high caffeine intake (tea, coffee, energy drinks), endocrine diseases, heart failure, hypertension, certain malignancies, infections, fever, anemia, and lack of sleep.
What Are the Symptoms of Heart Palpitations?
A sensation of rapid heartbeat at rest similar to feeling excited, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, chest pressure or a choking sensation, visual dimming, pale skin, dizziness, feeling that the heart pauses, fatigue, weakness, and fainting.
How Is It Diagnosed and Treated?
In patients with symptoms, the underlying cause and the type of tachycardia must be evaluated to determine whether the condition is pathological. Therefore, individuals experiencing recurrent palpitations should consult a cardiologist without delay. Diagnosis involves laboratory tests and various examinations. These may include ECG, echocardiography, Holter rhythm monitoring, and if needed, exercise stress testing or Holter blood pressure monitoring to rule out ischemia or hypertension. Electrophysiological study (EPS) is the most advanced diagnostic method for detecting pathological rhythm disorders. If an abnormality is identified, primary treatments include medication and, depending on EPS findings, ablation therapy.
What Precautions Should Be Taken?
Recommendations to address underlying triggers of palpitation include: ensuring adequate intake of vitamins and minerals; maintaining a balanced diet in terms of cholesterol, carbohydrates, and protein; treating anemia when present and adjusting diet accordingly; initiating treatment for non-cardiac conditions that may cause tachycardia; exercising without overexertion; reducing stress and seeking psychiatric support if needed; decreasing tea and coffee intake; maintaining proper sleep hygiene; avoiding smoking; and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption or abstaining altogether.
