If an individual experiences a pounding in the chest that feels like a flutter of heartbeats, also known as palpitations, the beats can be harmless or dangerous. While some palpitations take place due to caffeine, alcohol, anxiety, stress, or pregnancy, others are related to serious cardiovascular health problems.
For instance, a patient may suffer from a structural heart disease such as acute left ventricular failure or congenital heart disease. Additionally, rhythm disorders and hypertension may be diagnosed once the doctor receives the noninvasive cardiac images taken during a stress test.
Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations may be categorized as dangerous or harmless. Those experiencing any palpitations should see a doctor immediately to determine the cause. Doctors will want to know your medical history, family history, and any previously diagnosed health issues. Learning this information will allow doctors to more easily rule out certain conditions and find the true cause of the cardiovascular health concern.
Those with dangerous heart palpitations may require immediate medication or another form of treatment. In addition, doctors will likely want to monitor dangerous heart palpitations to determine the cause of the pounding heartbeats. Those with harmless palpitations may need to refrain from smoking, alcohol, and caffeine.
Types of Heart Palpitations
According to the National Library of Medicine, heart palpitations can be classified into four groups:
- Extrasystolic – These ectopic heartbeats produce a sensation of a missed or suddenly skipped beat, particularly of ventricular origin. This beat produces a vigorous contraction, striking against the chest.
- Tachycardic – These beats have a sudden onset and cessation. The sensation feels like a flutter in the chest accompanied by an increase in heart rate. With sinus tachycardia, the onset and cessation periods are more gradual and may be associated with other symptoms such as chest pain, weakness, syncope, and dyspnea.
- Anxiety-Related – The onset is gradual for this type of palpitation. The palpitations are typically preceded by other symptoms, including agitation, hyperventilation, facial paresthesias, or atypical chest pain.
- Pounding – A pounding heartbeat can feel intense and persistent. This type of palpitation is usually related to an underlying cause. Causes of such a pounding beat include anemic heart, pregnancy, infections, Paget’s disease, aortic regurgitation, or thiamine deficiency.
Heart palpitations can take place for a variety of reasons and may be caused by:
- Both ventricular and supraventricular cardiac arrhythmias
- Amphetamines
- Psychiatric disorders involving depression, panic, or anxiety
- AV blocks or cardiac device dysfunction
- Psychoactive substances
- Structural heart diseases, such as valvular heart disease or ventricular hypertrophy
- Cocaine
- Physiological states, including anemia, hyperthyroidism, or orthostatic hypotension
- Alcohol or alcohol withdrawal
- Marijuana
Because palpitations can occur for such vastly different reasons, doctors must not rule out severe conditions despite an individual’s history of anxiety.
Tests to Discover the Severity of Palpitations
Doctors use numerous tests to help determine the type and severity of heart palpitations. Tests include:
- Physical examinations
- Diagnostic tests
- Ambulatory ECG monitoring
- Holter test
- Event monitor
- Loop monitor
- Electrophysiological study
- Echocardiogram
The tests above help doctors rule out certain conditions and correctly diagnose cardiovascular health problems you may currently experience.
Find Treatment Today
If you experience heart palpitations, they should be quickly monitored to determine the severity of the issue. At United Heart Institute, we offer a wide range of screening and imaging options to help diagnose and detect various heart conditions. Our in-house cardiac MRI imaging can help identify cardiovascular problems.
Thankfully, our heart health clinic offers numerous treatment tools for those struggling with unwanted heart palpitations. Whether the palpitations occur sporadically or frequently, our doctors can help determine the root cause and assess your heart’s condition. Contact us today to speak with a professional.
