Heart pounding what to do. Heart palpitations and the causes of this disease

• Symptoms characteristic of pathology
• The reasons frequent heartbeat
• When is palpitations a health risk?
• Diseases that cause heart palpitations

Frequent palpitations, the causes of which can be very different, cannot be ignored. Usually, heart palpitations are harmless and go away on their own. But sometimes some treatment is required if a person has a very strong and rapid heartbeat, often with signs of arrhythmia. Usually a person does not feel how his heart beats, but the slightest deviation from the norm immediately makes itself felt.

Symptoms characteristic of pathology

Patients usually describe palpitations with the following phrases: the heart beats very hard and loudly, beats against the chest and literally jumps out of the chest. Increased heartbeat often accompanied by a sensation of pulsation in the neck, epigastric cavity, temples and fingertips. In addition, rapid heartbeat may be accompanied by pain in the chest, unpleasant noise in the ears, a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Such symptoms sometimes indicate a serious disruption of the heart and even the development of pathology. However, most often in patients with a rapid heartbeat, no special problems with health is not detected.

It is important to understand that palpitations are not the same as tachycardia. Tachycardia is an objective increase in the number of heartbeats that persists in a person under any conditions and does not depend on external factors. The pulse rate in a healthy adult at rest should be between 60 and 80 beats per minute. If the patient has more than 90 beats per minute, then in this case he is diagnosed with tachycardia. However, it should be noted that with tachycardia, the patient himself usually does not notice a rapid heartbeat, which distinguishes it from frequent heartbeats.

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Causes of palpitations

Even a person who does not have any health problems can experience heart palpitations from time to time. The most common cause of heart palpitations is stress. Therefore, this condition is more characteristic of people who are characterized by increased nervousness and sensitivity. In addition, the following factors can cause a rapid heartbeat:

1. Large or intense physical activity, such as quickly climbing stairs.
2. Physical effort performed in hot weather or excessive stuffiness. oxygen starvation causes an increase in the work of the heart.
3. A sharp mental experience, such as fright or excitement.
4. Use is unnecessary a large number coffee, cola or tea, as well as other products that contain caffeine.
5. Taking certain medications. For example, such an effect is often caused by medicines for the common cold.
6. Job disruption digestive system. For example, flatulence, which causes the diaphragm to rise, due to which it can put pressure on internal organs, including the heart.
7. disturbing dream, nightmare or, conversely, frequent insomnia.
8. Use alcoholic beverages which increase blood pressure and increase heart rate.
9. The use of antidepressants or any other psychotropic drugs.
10. High blood pressure, which may be a manifestation hypertension or be temporary.
11. old age when work of cardio-vascular system often fails.
12. Eating excessive amounts of chocolate, which contains a considerable amount of caffeine.
13. Climb general temperature body. The heat often causes a rapid heartbeat, as it has a negative effect on the work of the heart.

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When is palpitations a health risk?

In some cases, cardiac arrhythmia and palpitations are signs of a serious illness. You should not postpone a visit to the doctor if you experience symptoms such as:

• too strong and intense heartbeat;
• palpitations that persist for a long time and are severe;
• rapid heartbeat even with slight physical exertion or the slightest nervous experience, as well as after just one cup of coffee or tea;
• causeless palpitations that occur without the influence of any external factors;
• the heart beats unevenly, which may indicate an arrhythmia, that is, a violation of the heart rhythm.

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Diseases that cause heart palpitations

The above symptoms may indicate the development of serious diseases in the human body that require immediate treatment, namely:

1. Avitaminosis. Vitamin C deficiency is especially bad for the heart.
2. Anemia. Reduced content hemoglobin in the patient's blood and lack of iron.
3. Tetany. A serious condition caused by a lack of calcium in the body.
4. Various diseases endocrine system.
5. Pathologies of the heart of varying severity.
6. Acute heart failure.
7. body intoxication.
8. Various infectious diseases.
9. Tachycardia.
10. Myocardium.

But here it must be emphasized that with myocarditis and other heart diseases, as well as thyroid gland heart palpitations are just one of the symptoms of these ailments. The first thing that a patient suffering from the above diseases complains about is strong pain behind the sternum and severe shortness of breath.

palpitations require immediate medical care only if accompanied severe dizziness, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, blanching skin and sweating. If these symptoms appear, you should immediately call ambulance, since this condition can be dangerous to the health and life of the patient. The causes of arrhythmia in this case can be very serious.

If in the patient's body there is a deficiency of such important elements for life as magnesium or calcium, then this may be the cause of a strong heartbeat and cardiac arrhythmia. Signs of such paroxysmal tachycardia are severe shortness of breath, great weakness in the whole body, darkening of the eyes, pain in the chest and loss of consciousness.

The causes of arrhythmia may lie in such serious illness like leukemia that causes severe stage blood diseases.

In order to detect this disease in time, it is necessary to do general analysis blood, which will help determine the number of red blood cells.

Thus, the causes of palpitations can be very serious and should therefore not be taken lightly. If the arrhythmia of the heart worries the patient in a calm state, this is a clear signal that there is some kind of disorder in his body. Therefore, there is no need to postpone a visit to a cardiologist, since in this case we are talking about health, and maybe even life. The doctor carefully examines the patient and, based on the results, will make the correct diagnosis.

What disease is hidden behind a rapid heartbeat and pain in the heart?

• Stress;
• Overwork;
• Physical exercise;
• Depression.

1. Myocarditis;
2. Arrhythmia;
3. Thyroid diseases;
4. Vegetative-vascular dystonia;
5. myocardial infarction;
6. Neurosis;
7. Heart disease.

Symptoms of the manifestation of tachycardia: why is it accompanied by pain in the heart and palpitations?

Attacks can last for a couple of seconds or several days. Which greatly affects the state of the heart.

• Cardiopalmus;
• Dyspnea;
• Pain in the region of the heart;
• Chills;
• Weakness and dizziness;
• Decreased arterial;
• Insomnia;
• poor appetite;
• Sometimes body spasms.

Diagnosis and treatment of the causes of pain in the heart area

Article publication date: 05/14/2017

Article last updated: 12/21/2018

In this article: why the heart often beats intermittently and there are missed beats, acceleration and deceleration of the rhythm, irregular contractions. Symptoms of various disorders, how to establish a diagnosis and what to do if there is a pathology in normal operation hearts.

The contraction of the heart in a constant rhythm is the key normal functioning all organs. Accumulations of pacemaker cells (pacemakers) that create an electrical impulse of a constant frequency (sinus and atrioventricular nodes) are responsible for the rhythm of contractions. The wave of excitation that has arisen in this zone, along the conducting paths (the bundle of His) spreads to all parts of the heart, causing a contraction.

Interruptions in the work of the heart or arrhythmias are changes in the frequency of strokes associated with a violation of the formation or conduction of an excitation wave.

The normal rhythm of heart contractions is 60-90 per minute, each beat at an equal time. The source of the electrical impulse is the sinus node.

Three main violations:

1. Tachycardia is an acceleration of the heartbeat.
2. Bradycardia is slowing down of the heart muscle.
3. Extrasystole - additional contractions against the background of a normal rhythm.

Rhythm disturbances can occur intermittently (paroxysm), be asymptomatic, or rapidly become ill and cause death. Arrhythmias not associated with cardiac pathology are well treated, and chronic diseases with myocardial damage require constant therapy.

Changes in the rhythmic work of the heart cannot be missed, this is an occasion to consult a doctor to rule out arrhythmia. Therapists and cardiologists are engaged in the treatment of patients with such a pathology, and in specialized centers- arrhythmologists.

Tachycardia

Reduction of the atria and (or) ventricles with a frequency of more than 100 per minute.

Types of tachycardia

Development mechanism

The reciprocal (return) mechanism of development is responsible for 80% of all tachyarrhythmias. Due to a violation of the movement of the excitation wave, the electrical impulse moves in a circle, re-exciting the same part of the heart.

Focal (automatic) tachycardias account for 10%, are associated with metabolic disorders, are due to an increase in the excitability of the pathways. Under such conditions, all impulses cause a contraction. Normally, for the occurrence of an excitation wave, electrical activity of a certain level is necessary.

Trigger (trigger) tachyarrhythmias are caused by the appearance of an electrical impulse that exceeds the normal level: after the excitation wave has been carried out, the residual impulse starts the heart contraction again.

The reasons

Symptoms of tachycardia

With the development severe complications blood circulation (cardiac shock, pulmonary edema) symptoms are added cardiovascular insufficiency with risk.

Along the course, tachycardia is acute or chronic, progressive.

Overview of some types of tachycardias

Atrial fibrillation

Frequent, irregular atrial contraction. It makes up 75–85% of all supraventricular forms, occurs in 1–2% of the adult population. It is rarely diagnosed before the age of 25, affecting people of the senile and advanced age category.

The disease is characterized by a high risk of death, the development of cardiac failure, the formation of blood clots with their migration to the vessels of the lungs and brain. It flows asymptomatically for a long time, and after the appearance of the clinic, it quickly reduces the quality of life due to the inability to endure even light loads.

atrial flutter

Accelerated, regular contraction of the atria. Men are more often ill. Up to 50 years, the incidence is 5 cases per 100 thousand of the population, with increasing age, the frequency of occurrence increases exponentially.

Has a paroxysmal character, extremely rare chronic form. If left untreated, it leads to sudden death in 20% of patients.

In 20-35% of cases, it is combined with atrial fibrillation. The clinical picture is similar, but flutter quickly leads to heart failure with edematous syndrome.

Ventricular tachycardia

The source of the pathological impulse of excitation is located in the myocardium of the ventricles or the terminal branches of the conduction system. The cause of occurrence is only cardiac factors (70-80% ischemic disease).

Lack of treatment leads to cardiac arrest.

rare forms

• atrioventricular (nodal and focal);
• sinus and atrial.

They occur in 1-10% of tachyarrhythmias. The focal form is more often diagnosed in children when the heart beats at a frequency of up to 210 per minute.

Interruptions in the heart are paroxysmal in nature, rarely turn into a permanent form. Well treatable.

Treatment

Two approaches to therapy:

1. Reestablish normal rhythm and support it.
2. Control the level of tachycardia without rhythm recovery.

The choice is individual. Regardless of what you need to do, there are general rules:

• restore rhythm in young people without cardiac dysfunction;
• maintain a heart rate of up to 90 per minute at rest and not higher than 115 during exercise in elderly people with heart disease;
• use anticoagulants (warfarin, low molecular weight heparins) - prevention of blood clots in the chambers of the heart;
• treat the causes of tachyarrhythmias.

Rhythm recovery options

The choice of tactics depends on the symptoms and the degree of circulatory disorders. heavy cardiopulmonary failure is an indication for emergency electrical cardioversion. For non-threatening conditions, use drug therapy followed by the decision to ablate.

Controlling the level of tachycardia

To do this, use the same antiarrhythmic drugs as for restoring the rhythm. Often a combination of several drugs is required.

The effectiveness of treatment is determined by the causes. Without primary pathology of the heart or its secondary changes against the background prolonged absence sinus rhythm a complete cure is possible. With tachycardia due to chronic diseases, antiarrhythmic therapy is lifelong.

Extrasystole

Extrasystole is an extraordinary contraction of the heart muscle.

Her forms:

Extrasystoles occur for the same reasons as tachycardia. Often provoke the onset of a paroxysm of tachyarrhythmia.

Extrasystole in most cases is asymptomatic, sometimes there are:

• interruptions in the work of the heart;
• a feeling of heightened heart attack or stopping, fading of the heart.

With heart failure, the course of the disease worsens, and the risk of death increases. Single extrasystoles occur in healthy people, do not require correction. Respond well to treatment.

Treatment of extrasystole associated with damage to the heart muscle includes:

• beta blockers;
• ablation of foci of high-frequency extrasystole.

Bradycardia

Bradycardia is a contraction of the atria and (or) ventricles at a rate of less than 60 beats per minute. medical intervention requires ventricular bradyarrhythmia.

Kinds

Sick sinus syndrome

Decrease or turn off electrical activity the main pacemaker sinus node. The disease affects the elderly and senile age, rarely diagnosed in young people. The incidence is 3 cases per 5000 population.

On the early stages without a decrease in the rhythm of less than 40 per minute, there are no symptoms. Distinguishes a progressive course. Treatment improves overall well-being, but does not always affect life expectancy.

Atroventricular blocks

There is a violation of the conduction of the excitation wave along the conduction paths to the ventricles. The occurrence is 2–5%. progressive course.

There are 3 degrees of severity as the violation of the conduction of the wave of excitation. Blockade 2-3 degree distinguishes high risk cardiac arrest.

The reasons

1. Cardiac factors, as in tachyarrhythmias.
2. Increasing the level of potassium, magnesium.
3. Diseases of the esophagus, stomach.
4. Side effect of antiarrhythmic drugs, analgesics of the morphine group.
5. Vagotonia (the predominance of the action of the parasympathetic nervous system).
6. Low thyroid function.
7. Causeless.

Symptoms

• Decreased heart rate.
• Interruptions in the work of the heart, a feeling of its stop.
• Pronounced, growing weakness, inability to perform normal activities.
• Fluctuating blood pressure levels, often with episodes of elevated low effect from treatment.
• Disturbances of consciousness to deep syncope.
• Pain in the chest unrelated to physical exertion.

Treatment

What to do with this pathology:

• to treat the underlying disorder that caused the slowing of the rhythm;
• correct bradycardia with drugs (xanthines, anticholinergics);
• install a pacemaker (pacemaker) - with a high risk of cardiac arrest.

Tactics depends on the stage of bradyarrhythmia, the presence of a clinic. If the decrease in rhythm is associated with myocardial damage - full recovery no.

Physiological bradycardia in trained people and asymptomatic bradyarrhythmias do not require treatment.

Diagnosis of the heart during its work with interruptions

Forecast

All arrhythmias of non-cardiac origin are completely curable with the correction of the initial pathology.

In forms associated with myocardial damage, the prognosis depends on the degree of circulatory disorders. Chronic heart pathologies require constant treatment and gradually progress.

Paroxysmal forms of interruptions in the heart - common cause sudden death.

Palpitations - the feeling that the heart is beating too fast or beating hard - a reason to see a doctor.

is a patient's complaint of a subjective sensation of a rapid, arrhythmic, or heavy heartbeat. Normally, we do not notice the beating of our heart. But any deviation from the norm becomes immediately noticeable. Palpitations are usually described by patients as follows: the heart beats too hard (or "loudly") in the chest, the heart "jumps" out of the chest, pounding hard, "tugging", "turning" or "fluttering". An increased heartbeat may be accompanied by a feeling of throbbing in the neck, temples, epigastric region, or fingertips. Palpitations may also be accompanied by tinnitus, pain in the region of the heart, a feeling of tightness in the chest or shortness of breath. Similar symptoms may indicate a pathology of the heart, but in most cases complaints of increased heartbeat with accompanying symptoms instrumental research signs of heart damage are not detected.

Palpitations should be distinguished from tachycardia. Tachycardia is an objective increase in heart rate. The normal heart rate for an adult at rest is 60-80 beats per minute. If more than 90 beats per minute are recorded, then tachycardia is diagnosed. However, at the same time, the patient may not feel that his heartbeat is rapid.

Common causes of heart palpitations

Even healthy man may feel an increased heartbeat. To the greatest extent this is characteristic of people with increased nervous sensitivity. The following can lead to heart palpitations:

• significant physical effort;
• fast rise to height;
• physical activity in a hot and stuffy environment (lack of oxygen leads to increased heart function);
• sharp mental stress(fright, excitement, etc.);
• consumption of a large number of foods high content caffeine (coffee, tea, coca-cola);
• some medications(in particular, remedies for the common cold);
• digestive disorders (for example, flatulence, due to which the diaphragm is somewhat elevated).

A strong heartbeat can be felt when high temperature(Patients with fever often experience palpitations.)

Increased heart rate with high blood pressure

A rapid heartbeat is often accompanied by high blood pressure. In this case, the more often the heart contracts, the higher the pressure in the arteries. The dependence here is just that ... Therefore, it is wrong to consider high blood pressure as the cause of an increased heartbeat. Another thing is that the increase in pressure, accompanied by general deterioration well-being, can make you notice how hard your heart beats.

Heart palpitations and high blood pressure can be caused by the same reasons. In this case medical measures, aimed at normalizing pressure, will also contribute to the normalization of the heartbeat.

Increased heart rate with low blood pressure

An increased heart rate is quite possible with reduced pressure. A sharp decrease in pressure can be observed when shock states(anaphylactic, traumatic, infectious-toxic, psychogenic and other types of shock). The body responds by accelerating the contraction of the heart muscle to restore pressure. A similar compensatory nature of the increased heartbeat also occurs with large blood loss.

Rapid heart rate at normal pressure

However, increased heart rate can be felt regardless of pressure.

When is a heartbeat a reason to see a doctor?

A rapid heartbeat is a reason to see a doctor if it:

• too intense;
• is protracted (does not go away for a long time);
• occurs with less and less influence of the above factors;
• arises out of connection with the above factors;
• is uneven in nature (it can be assumed that arrhythmia is a violation of the heart rhythm).

In these cases, heart palpitations can be a manifestation of serious disorders and diseases, such as:

• avitaminosis;
• anemia ( low maintenance hemoglobin and iron in the blood);
• tetany (a condition caused by a lack of calcium);
• endocrine diseases;
• cardiac pathologies.

However, as a rule, in the case of myocarditis, other heart diseases, as well as hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, an increased heartbeat is not the main complaint. At similar diseases, first of all, complain of pain in the heart and shortness of breath.

It is necessary to respond promptly if dizziness, shortness of breath, blanching of the skin, sweating are observed against the background of an increased heartbeat. In this case, you should call an ambulance.

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Causes of palpitations

Among all the conditions that can cause a rapid heart rate, one can distinguish physiological, that is, acting temporarily with independent restoration of normal heart rate, and pathological, that is, based on various violations activity of the heart or other organs.

Physiological causes

1. Physical activity - running, fast long walking, swimming, playing sports,
2. Psycho-emotional stress - acute and chronic stress, panic attack, severe fear, mental strain,
3. Strong emotions - anger, joy, rage, etc.
4. Pregnancy - due to the general increase in blood volume in the body of a pregnant woman, as well as due to the increased load on her heart, there is an increase in heart rate that does not require treatment if no other symptoms are identified. pathological causes, and the woman tolerates a frequent rhythm satisfactorily.

Pathological conditions

1) Cardiology

a) Functional disorders CCC regulation:

• Vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD, neurocirculatory dystonia) - violations of the regulation of vascular tone, resulting in a reflex increase in heart rate,
• Dysfunction of the sinus node (pacemaker), which is manifested by sinus tachycardia,
• Sudden changes in blood pressure (within the VVD, that is, due to functional features organism), as a result of which the heart reflexively responds with an accelerated rhythm in response to reduced pressure.

b) organic defeat myocardium:

• Myocardial infarction, acute or transferred some time ago,
• Heart defects, congenital or acquired nature,
• Arterial hypertension, especially long-term, or with high blood pressure,
• Cardiosclerosis, that is, the formation of scar tissue in the place of a normal heart muscle, for example, after inflammation of the myocardium (myocarditis) or acute myocardial infarction,
• Cardiomyopathy - diseases accompanied by a change in the structure of the heart muscle - hypertrophy (increase in mass of the myocardium) or dilation (thinning of the heart muscle and expansion of the heart cavities).

With such diseases, palpitations can be manifested by tachycardia, when the heart contracts often, but correctly, as well as atrial fibrillation or other types of tachyarrhythmias, when the rhythm is frequent and irregular, that is, the heart contracts irregularly.

2) Non-cardiac

Diseases of other organs and systems:

1. Thyroid disorders, in particular autoimmune lesion or goiter, accompanied increased level hormones in the blood - hyperthyroidism,
2. Organ diseases gastrointestinal tract– gastritis, gastric ulcer, diaphragmatic hernia, etc.,
3. Diseases bronchopulmonary system- chronic obstructive bronchitis, bronchial asthma, especially if the patient uses inhalers, the active substance of which increases the heart rate (berodual, salbutamol, berotek, etc.),
4. Fever,
5. Acute infectious and purulent diseases,
6. Anemia,
7. Alcoholic, nicotine, narcotic and other types of intoxication,
8. acute poisoning,
9. Eating disorders with dystrophy,
10. Brain tumors, mediastinum, terminal stage oncological processes in the body,
11. Many types of shock (burn, traumatic, hemorrhagic, etc.).

Symptoms and manifestations of palpitations

Clinically, the sensations of the heartbeat can vary greatly from person to person. different patients depending on the causative factor, as well as on psycho-emotional characteristics and on the general sensitivity of the body.

As a rule, heart palpitations appear paroxysmal, and disappear as triggering factors are eliminated in the case of their physiological nature in a few minutes, but sometimes such an attack can drag on for hours, days and even weeks.

In the case when the patient does not have diseases of the heart or other organs, and rapid pulse caused by transient factors, then after the cause is eliminated (rest, cessation of physical activity, exclusion stressful situation) heart rate indicators come to rate (60-90 per minute). In case of a certain disease, to eliminate unpleasant symptoms may need to be applied medications or treatment of this disease.

What other symptoms can be associated with palpitations?

In persons with vegetative-vascular dystonia increased heart rate can be combined with pronounced psycho-emotional manifestations, such as tearfulness, irritability, aggressiveness, as well as with vegetative reactions - sweating, pallor, trembling of the limbs, headache, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure numbers. In pronounced cases in such patients, an accelerated heart rate accompanies panic attack.

In the presence of high level thyroid hormones(hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis), the patient notes attacks of strong palpitations, combined with sweating, internal trembling throughout the body, weight loss with increased appetite, a visually apparent increase in the palpebral fissures and "bulging" eyeballs.

If we talk about the relationship of triggers in various diseases, then anything can provoke tachycardia - physical activity or stress in heart failure, acceptance horizontal position after meals (especially at night) with stomach diseases, overdose inhalation drugs at bronchial asthma etc.

Dangerous symptoms to watch out for!

Tachycardia may be a symptom of some life-threatening conditions, for example, if interruptions in the heart and a feeling of strong heartbeat are combined with severe pain in the left side chest, between the shoulder blades or behind the sternum, and are also accompanied by a sudden sharp deterioration conditions with cold sweat, shortness of breath, can be suspected in a patient acute infarction myocardium.

With a combination of frequent heartbeat with shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, a choking cough with pink frothy sputum or without it, you can think about the onset of acute left ventricular heart failure. Especially sharply, such symptoms can manifest themselves at night, when the venous congestion blood in the lungs, and cardiac asthma and pulmonary edema may develop.

In the case when a rapid pulse is accompanied by a sensation of an irregular heartbeat, one can think of dangerous violations rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation, frequent extrasystoles, tachy-brady syndrome with sick sinus syndrome, which can lead to loss of consciousness and even cardiac arrest.

Especially dangerous are ventricular tachycardia and frequent ventricular extrasystole, which are manifested by a very rapid heart rate and are accompanied by sweating, darkening of the eyes, severe shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air. The danger of such conditions is that they can lead to ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest (asystole).

Thus, in the presence of such pronounced symptoms and worsening general well-being during attacks of palpitations, you should immediately consult a doctor (in a clinic or emergency medical service), because sometimes only the results of an ECG can determine the cause and degree of danger of conditions manifested by an increased heart rate.

Heart palpitations diagnosis

As you can see from the part of the article that describes the causes of heart palpitations, There are a lot of triggers and causative diseases. Therefore, if the patient cannot independently determine the condition, as a result of which the heartbeat increases, and, moreover, if such symptoms are difficult to tolerate by the patient, he should see a doctor in a timely manner to plan the examination and treatment if necessary.

From the consultations of specialists, in addition to the therapist, examinations by an endocrinologist, gynecologist, infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist and other doctors may be necessary.

Of the most informative studies, the following can be shown:

1. Complete blood count - for a decrease in hemoglobin levels or the presence of an inflammatory process,
2. Urinalysis for exclusion chronic inflammation kidneys, as well as kidney damage in hypertension, diabetes, etc.,
3. Biochemical blood test - examines the indicators of kidney and liver function,
4. Blood test for infectious diseases - viral hepatitis, HIV, syphilis,
5. Blood test for thyroid hormones, adrenal hormones,
6. Glycemic profile and glucose tolerance test for suspected diabetes mellitus,
7. Determining the level of sex hormones in pregnant women, especially if there were serious endocrinological diseases before pregnancy,
8. ECG, in combination with Holter monitoring of ECG and blood pressure per day, as well as ECG after dosed physical activity in the office functional methods research,
9. Echocardioscopy (ultrasound of the heart) for the diagnosis of defects, impaired contractile function of the myocardium and many other heart diseases,
10. In case of serious rhythm disturbances, the suspected cause of which is coronary heart disease, the patient can undergo coronary angiography - an “examination from the inside” coronary arteries that feed the heart muscle
11. Ultrasound of the thyroid gland, internal organs, pelvic organs, if a corresponding pathology is suspected,
12. Fibrogastroscopy (examination of the gastric mucosa with a gastroscope), analysis gastric juice in case of suspected peptic ulcer, fluoroscopy of the esophagus and stomach with barium in case of suspected diaphragmatic hernia, etc.,
13. Function research external respiration may be needed if the patient describes the symptoms of attacks of tachycardia and suffocation, reminiscent of attacks of bronchial asthma,
14. MRI of the brain, if a neurologist suspects cardiac abnormalities as a result of a brain catastrophe, such as a stroke, as well as due to a brain tumor or other diseases.

It is unlikely that one patient will need a complete list of the above studies, since in most cases attacks of isolated tachycardia without other symptoms appear as a result of physiological reasons. If the cause is pathological, then, as a rule, several more symptoms will be observed, so the doctor will be able to orient the patient at the first examination in which diagnostic direction they should move.

Treatment

The answer to the question of how and for how long to treat attacks of frequent palpitations can only be answered by a specialist at a face-to-face appointment. In some cases, only rest is indicated, good sleep and proper nutrition, and in some you can’t do without an ambulance team with follow-up in a hospital setting.

First aid for heart palpitations

At the stage first aid A patient with an attack can be helped in the following ways:

• Reassure the patient
• Open the window, unbutton the collar for fresh air access,
• Help lie down or sit down if the patient is suffocating while lying down,
• Call the ambulance,
• Measure pulse and blood pressure
• Apply vagal or Valsalva tests - ask the patient to strain, cough, so that the pressure in chest cavity increased, and the rhythm slowed down a little; you can wet your face cold water and press hard on eyeballs within three to five minutes
• Take half or a whole tablet of anaprilin under the tongue, or drink a tablet of egilok, concor or coronal inside if the patient has already taken such medications before, but only in accordance with the level of blood pressure - at a pressure below 90/60 mm Hg, such drugs are categorically contraindicated, and the rhythm is slowed down only by health workers with the help of intravenous administration of drugs, coupled with cardiotonic drugs.

Similar recommendations apply to patients with a history of cardiac disease, because in the case of another severe pathology, for example, for a patient in a state of severe poisoning or traumatic shock, life-saving and stabilization measures will be completely different.

So, in this material, only some of the reasons and exemplary schemes what can be thought of in various combinations of palpitations with other symptoms. Therefore, it is better for a person who is far from medicine not to engage in self-diagnosis and self-treatment, but to seek help from a doctor who not only diagnoses the disease in time, if any, but also prescribes competent treatment, allowing not to start the disease.

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Causes and symptoms of increased heartbeat

Increased heart rate, in which the heart rate exceeds 100 beats, is called tachycardia. Some doctors consider an increase in heart rate to 90 beats per minute as a sign of tachycardia.

Even people who do not have health problems sometimes feel a rapid heartbeat. The heart can beat hard different reasons. There are physiological and pathological tachycardia. Physiological - is not a symptom of diseases and can be observed in people who do not have health problems.

For example, tachycardia is considered normal in children under 6 years of age. Physiological tachycardia can also be observed in the following cases:

• Experiences, emotions stress.
• Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (overeating, flatulence).
• strenuous exercise (climbing stairs, leisure etc.).
• With an increase in body temperature (an increase in temperature by 1 degree increases the heart rate by 10 beats per minute).
• Excessive consumption of coffee and drinks that contain caffeine.
• Taking certain medications.
• Drug use (cocaine, etc.).
• Intoxication of the body (alcohol, nicotine, nitrates).

Symptoms for which you should see a doctor:

• palpitations last more than 5 minutes and do not go away, even if the person is in a calm position;
• shocks hurt;
• palpitations are accompanied by dizziness, fainting;
• gaps, "gaps" between heartbeats;
• there is shortness of breath, lack of air;
• pain in the region of the heart;
• palpitations are accompanied by darkening in the eyes, a rush of blood to the face;
• if the cause is not found and the tachycardia is permanent.

Why is the heart beating fast? There can be many reasons for this condition. Tachycardia is rare independent disease and not always it is caused by diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Tachycardia is observed in some diseases of the endocrine system, in the presence of tumors, infections in the body. The causes of pathological tachycardia may be a lack of certain substances in the body.

Types of tachycardia

Normal physiological responses- physical activity, emotions - cause sinus tachycardia. Normally, the heart makes up to 150 beats per minute, maintaining a normal rhythm.

Sinus tachycardia happens to everyone and does not require any action. It needs treatment if it manifests itself at rest. Sinus tachycardia is sometimes a symptom of heart failure, thyroid disease.

Paroxysmal tachycardia has a clear clinical picture. The heart suddenly starts beating too fast. Just as instantly, the attack ends. At heart palpitations there is dizziness, noise in the head, weakness, sometimes loss of consciousness. The pulse rate can reach 140 and even 220 beats per minute, rarely more.

Paroxysmal tachycardia is:

• atrial;
• ventricular.

Atrial tachycardia may occur due to disruption of the autonomic nervous system. Then a strong heartbeat may be accompanied by an increase in pressure, urine output after an attack.

Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia can be caused by smoking, long-term use alcohol, coffee, stimulants. It is sufficient to exclude the factor seizure-inducing and your heart will stop beating too fast.

Ventricular tachycardia, as a rule, develops against the background of pathological heart diseases. Its reasons may be:

• congestive heart failure;
• ischemic heart disease;
• heart defects;
• cardiomyopathy;
• arterial hypertension.

Patients with paroxysmal tachycardia should definitely consult a cardiologist and undergo cardiography to find out the cause of frequent heartbeats.

The heart beats when the rhythm of work is disturbed. Among the many arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation is the most common. With this type of arrhythmia, the atrial rate can reach 150-300 beats per minute. The arrhythmia may be felt as a "flutter" of the heart.

Symptoms of arrhythmia are:

• weakness of the pulse with frequent beats;
• pain and tingling in the chest;
• dyspnea;
• muscle weakness;
• sweating;
• attacks of fear and panic;
• dizziness and loss of consciousness.

Atrial fibrillation observed in older people with heart disease, in young people with heart defects. Atrial fibrillation is a symptom of thyroid diseases, intoxication of the body with alcohol, drugs, etc.

With arrhythmia, drugs are prescribed only by a doctor. Since some medicines used to treat heart disease can cause an attack of palpitations.

When is palpitations a symptom of an underlying disease?

If a rapid heartbeat is accompanied by a decrease in efficiency, fatigue, weakness, pallor of the skin, then all signs point to anemia. Iron deficiency in the body and a decrease in hemoglobin content affect the functioning of the heart and cause tachycardia.

Iron deficiency anemia is often latent, and patients may not be aware of such a pathology. An increased heart rate is one of the symptoms of iron deficiency. This condition may occur due to:

• pregnancy;
• heavy menstruation;
• frequent bleeding from the nose, with ulcerative processes in the stomach, with hemorrhoids;
• multiple donation;
• iron absorption disorders (with enteritis and some other diseases).

Often the heart beats due to a malfunction of the thyroid gland. Palpitations are accompanied by weight loss, irritability, insomnia, trembling fingers. Hyperthyroidism - a violation of the functionality of the thyroid gland - is often observed in women. Patients with hyperthyroidism are concerned about a frequent pulse, pain in the chest, shortness of breath, rhythm disturbances.

To eliminate tachycardia caused by interruptions in the work of the thyroid gland, they take medications that block the synthesis of hormones. In some cases, it applies surgery. With a decrease in the level of hormones of this endocrine organ symptoms of tachycardia disappear without a trace.

The heart beats too hard, and panic sets in, symptoms are often accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, and less often chest pain. These signs are characteristic of vegetovascular dystonia of the cardiac type. Attacks are accompanied by a pulsation in the temples, the pulse can be felt in the vessels in the neck.

VSD is a frequent companion of depression. Often, with attacks of tachycardia, patients are haunted by the fear of death. Vegetovascular dystonia is not a disease that poses a danger. The main thing is to understand whether it is hiding behind VVD symptoms more serious pathology.

Rapid heartbeat is a symptom of a disease such as leukemia. But the likelihood of getting any form of leukemia is very small. There are only 35 cases per million people.

If the heartbeat caught up suddenly

• need to go to Fresh air or open windows;
• tighten the abdominal muscles for 15 seconds, repeat every 1-2 minutes;
• dip your face in cool water for a few seconds;
• put a cold object on your forehead;
• if after five minutes the heart is still beating strongly, call an ambulance.

If the heart beats too fast, then this may indicate the development of the disease. And only a doctor during the examination will determine the cause and prescribe treatment. Self-medication of palpitations is dangerous, as drugs that are effective for one condition can cause Negative influence in the heart with another.

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Why does

The causes of a strong heartbeat are different. It can occur at normal, elevated or reduced pressure.

A strong heartbeat is normal in the following cases:

• Physical activity: sports, physical work, weight lifting, brisk walking, running and so on.
• With emotional stress: fear, excitement, joy, anger, irritation, etc.
• With an increase in body temperature, for example, with infectious diseases. With an increase in t by 1 degree, the heart rate increases by 10 beats per minute.
• With an allergic reaction.
• From overeating.
• From the use of energy drinks.
• With a climax.

The causes of pathological tachycardia are various diseases, among which:

• cardiosclerosis;
• myocardial dystrophy;
• arrhythmia;
• anemia;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• disruption of the endocrine system;
• hypoxia;
• heart defects.

Finding the exact cause of an increase in heart rate is possible only through a comprehensive diagnosis.

How to help yourself with a strong heartbeat

If a tachycardia attack happened to a person for the first time, and he does not suspect that he has pathologies, he needs to do the following:

• open a window in the room;
• unfasten the collar of the garment;
• wash with cool water;
• if possible, you must definitely lie down or at least sit down, but do not stay on your feet.
• take medicine (this can be Corvalol, Valocordin, Validol, Valerian, Motherwort).

Many people panic during an attack of tachycardia, especially if it happened at night. You need to calm down and start breathing properly. With a rapid heartbeat, you need to take a deep breath, then hold your breath, strain and slowly exhale. Relief does not come immediately, so the exercise is recommended to be done for about five minutes.

With a strong heartbeat, you can try to cough.

Another remedy that helps to stop attacks of tachycardia, accompanied by dizziness and impaired coordination of movement, is eye massage. Making it is very simple:

• close your eyes and press on the eyeballs with your fingertips;
• keep your fingers in front of your eyes for about 10 seconds, then release;
• repeat after 10 seconds.

Helps with tachycardia effects on biologically active points located on the fingers. The little finger and thumb. With a rapid heartbeat, you need to press the tip of the little finger on the base of the thumbnail on both hands.

Traditional medicine suggests rubbing the back of the wrists, where there are active points associated with the work of the cardiovascular system.

A strong heartbeat can be a harbinger of a stroke or heart attack. In this case, it is required immediate help. You need to call an ambulance and take sedatives.

Strong heartbeat and high blood pressure

Often, tachycardia is characterized not only by a rapid heartbeat, but also by hypertension. If during an attack high blood pressure, the following steps need to be taken:

• It is convenient to sit or lie down and try to relax completely.
• drink a little cold water. When passing through the esophagus, it puts pressure on the heart, thereby normalizing its work.
• Sometimes washing with cold water can help.
• Another way to lower your heart rate if your blood pressure is high is to take a deep breath, cover your nose and mouth with your hand, and try to exhale.
• If the cause of the attack is stress, relaxation, aromatherapy and meditation will help.
• With a pronounced heartbeat, doctors advise taking anaprilin.
• The menu should include more seafood and fish, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
• Vitamin complexes should be taken by those who have tachycardia with high pressure caused by a lack of magnesium in the body.

Heartbeat at low pressure

In hypotensive patients, tachycardia is quite common. Signs such as palpitations and low blood pressure are characteristic of such pathological conditions:

• shock (anaphylactic, traumatic);
• vegetovascular dystonia;
• profuse bleeding.

With tachycardia that develops against the background of hypotension, the following symptoms are often observed:

• nausea, vomiting;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• pale skin;
• pain in the heart and stomach;
• feeling of fear, increased anxiety.

Tachycardia in pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes significant changes and it begins to work in a different mode. Rapid heart rate (up to 100 beats per minute or more) normal phenomenon in this period. Often, tachycardia during gestation is mild and not dangerous. But it happens that it is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms:

• headaches;
• dizziness;
• chest pain;
• sometimes fainting.

• rest more;
• avoid stress;
• drink more pure water.

Tachycardia in the fetus

During an ultrasound scan in the fifth week of gestation, the doctor can diagnose tachycardia in the fetus. Heart rate is a very important indicator by which they determine how it develops future child. A strong heartbeat in the fetus can be caused by hypoxia, the causes of which may be as follows:

• finding the expectant mother in a stuffy room;
• anemia in a woman;
• physical activity of a pregnant woman.

Rapid heartbeat in a child

Children have a higher heart rate than adults. Moreover, the younger the child, the faster his heart beats. Usually a strong heartbeat in children has the following reasons:

• fear, joy, stressful situation;
• cardiac and non-cardiac diseases;
• weather change.

If the increase in heart rate is associated with emotional or physical stress, then it normalizes on its own.

But tachycardia is not always harmless. She may be a sign serious illness e.g. heart failure, arrhythmia, myocarditis.

The child may experience acute attacks rapid heartbeat, which is called paroxysmal tachycardia. Sometimes they last several hours and are accompanied by dizziness, nausea, chest pain, convulsions, cold sweat, fainting.

How to treat

Treatment is prescribed depending on the cause. It is important to save the patient from unpleasant symptoms: dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, fainting.

Two methods are usually used: drug therapy and folk remedies.

Treatment with drugs

To combat tachycardia, you need to take the following medications:

• Sedatives. These include natural remedies based medicinal herbs. This is motherwort, valerian, Novo-passit. They can be produced in tablets, drops, tinctures.
• Antiarrhythmic. These tablets normalize the heartbeat. You can not drink them on your own, only as directed by a doctor. These include Flecainide, Verapamil and others.

For the treatment of tachycardia, pills of four groups are taken:

• Cardiac glycosides (Dogoxin).
• Beta blockers (Atenolol, Concor).
• Sedative drugs (Novo-passit).
• Antioxidants (Mexicor, Preductal).

Herbal treatment

Most often, mint, lemon balm, chamomile, St. John's wort, motherwort and others are used to treat a strong heartbeat at home.

To normalize heart rate and pressure, you can prepare an infusion of herbs. To do this, you need to take a spoonful of dried valerian root, yarrow herb and lemon balm. Mix the ingredients, pour boiling water and put on water bath for 40 minutes. When cool, strain and drink.

Another effective remedy- hawthorn. Aqueous fruit extract should be taken three times a day, 20 drops in ¼ cup of water before meals. For cooking, you need a tablespoon of crushed fruits, which you need to pour a glass of boiling water, put on a slow fire and cook until half of the original volume remains.

An infusion can be prepared from hawthorn flowers. To do this, pour the flowers (tsp) with a glass of boiling water and put in a water bath for 15 minutes. Take twice a day before meals for half a glass.

As a preventive measure

In order to prevent attacks of tachycardia, it is recommended:

• Avoid stress and high physical exertion.
• Refuse to drink black tea and coffee or limit their consumption, give preference to green tea.
• Instead of tea, you can drink an infusion of hawthorn and wild rose, which helps to normalize heart rate. To prepare it, the fruits of these plants are mixed in equal proportions, poured with boiling water and insisted.
• If tachycardia develops against a background of hypertension, green oat juice helps well (drink 50 g three times a day) or an infusion of blue cornflower flowers (take ½ cup three times a day). With a tendency to palpitations at high blood pressure it is recommended to take a tablespoon a day of Adonis infusion and drink green tea with mint or lemon balm leaves.

Many people, from time to time, could observe an excessive heartbeat. Very often the heart beats for various reasons, ranging from a simple fright, pumping quite serious pathologies of the heart muscle.

Causes of palpitations

As a rule, a rapid heartbeat indicates internal problems in the body, so if your heartbeat has been bothering you for a long time, you should not neglect it. As a rule, this phenomenon is more common in the elderly, ranging from 55 to 60 years.

A normal heartbeat is considered to be between 60 and 80 beats per minute; in a state of sleep, the heartbeat is reduced to 60 to 50 beats. If your pulse is much higher than the specified norm, then you have obvious problems.

Main reasons

• Tachycardia, arrhythmia
• and constant anxiety
• Cardiophobia
• Climax
• Vegetative-vascular dystonia
• Heart disease
• Diseases of the thyroid gland
• Strong physical overload

What should be done in case of heart palpitations?

If the heartbeat began suddenly, then it is better to leave everything and rest. Heart medicines, such as corvalol, valerian or valocordin, normalize the work of the heart very well. Therefore, you can safely take these drugs to normalize the heartbeat.

To relieve tension from the heart muscle and calm the heartbeat, you can simultaneously tighten your abs and legs for about 10 seconds, then relax. You can also try to massage the little fingers. If that doesn't help, do breathing exercises, deep breath and exhale (very slowly.)

If the heart beats very fast, it is necessary to quit bad habits, such as and alcohol, or reduce them to a minimum if quitting fails. Coffee and strong tea also need to be significantly reduced.

Your diet should be balanced and nutritious. At the same time, you need to reduce the amount of salt in food, and exclude everything spicy and pickled from your diet.

Goat willow bark will help with arrhythmia and tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)

Usually the decoction is drunk for ten days. Do not take alcohol during the treatment period. It is better to consult a doctor before taking.

If the heartbeat arose spontaneously, and at the same time you began to feel unwell, then immediately call an ambulance, as this may be a harbinger or.

Persistent palpitations may be due to acquired vegetative dystonia or heart problems. To do this, you need to undergo all the necessary studies in your clinic (cardiogram, ultrasound of the heart and blood vessels, stress tests) to confirm or refute the alleged diagnosis. Then it will be possible to comprehensively approach the problem, and begin the correct and effective treatment.