PALPITATIONS
Description and Possible Medical Problems
Heart palpitations are common in people of all ages. Whether the palpitations are described as a skipped or extra heartbeat, a rapid heartbeat, or a rapid flutter, palpitations are usually nothing to worry about when they occur without other symptoms. If you have heart palpitations, either frequent ones—every day—or only occasionally, once or twice a year, it’s a good idea to answer these questions so you can monitor your palpitations.
1. Do I also have shortness of breath?
2. Do I have chest pain?
3. Can I tap out the rhythm of the palpitations with my finger?
4. Which activities tend to bring on the irregularity?
If you sometimes feel as though you have an extra heartbeat, you probably shouldn’t worry. An occasional extra beat is very common in people under 50. The most common cause is anxiety, caffeine, or smoking. If there are no other symptoms but the extra beat is appearing with greater frequency, you may be hospitalized for a few days and put under observation. A Holtor monitor, an electronic device that checks your heartbeat for irregularities, will record every heartbeat for 24 hours or more. Your doctor will also use an echocardiogram to see if you have any problems with the valves in your heart. He will check for mitral valve prolapse, which is a congenital condition in which blood leaks slowly through the mitral valve. The condition can cause a variety of symptoms; besides palpitations, they can include headaches and a vague chest pain. This condition is more common in women than men.
If you have mitral valve prolapse, your doctor’s number one concern will be that you take antibiotics before any dental, urological, or gastrointestinal procedure, which will help to prevent infection of the heart valve by any bacteria that are loosened during these procedures.
Treatment
If you notice an extra heartbeat only once in a while and have no other symptoms, you don’t need to do anything. If the palpitations occasionally become strong and upset you, your doctor may prescribe beta-blockers to help prevent the more severe episodes. If your doctor determines that you have a mitral valve prolapse, a medication such as Inderal or another beta-blocker may be prescribed to limit the episodes. I also recommend you increase your activity and go easy on caffeine.
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