What are palpitations?

Palpitations, oh the bane of our existence. It’s that feeling like you’re about to have a heart attack and die any second now but then it just goes away as mysteriously as it appeared. So what are palpitations exactly? Let’s dive deep into this annoying phenomenon.

The Science Behind It All

Before we start analyzing your every heartbeat, let’s get some science out of the way first. Palpitations are essentially an awareness of your own heartbeat – this can either be because your heart is beating too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia), or simply because there’s an extra beat occurring somewhere in between your normal rhythm.

Fun fact: Did you know that the average adult heart beats around 100,000 times per day?! That’s one hardworking muscle right there!

There could be many different reasons for why someone experiences palpitations including:

• Anxiety
• Exercise
• Medication side effects
• Overconsumption of caffeine or alcohol
• Thyroid problems

So if you feel like you’re having palpitations more frequently than usual, take note of other factors such as whether or not you’ve been chugging mugs after mugs of coffee all day long.

Symptoms Galore

Now onto the really fun part – what symptoms do palpations come with? Unfortunately for us all, they can range quite widely from person to person but here are some common ones people experience:

1. Fluttering sensation in chest
2. Shortness of breath
3. Chest pain/discomfort
4. Dizziness/lightheadedness

Extra fun fact: If you ever end up experiencing these symptoms when getting chased by a bear, don’t freak out! Your body might actually be doing something called ‘fight-or-flight’ response which results in faster breathing rates and increased blood flow. Your heart is simply doing its job by pumping that blood to your limbs so you can run faster!

The Dreaded Diagnosis

So what really causes palpitations and how do we know if our throbbing heartbeat is something more serious than just too many energy drinks?

Well, it all boils down to diagnosis. If you’re experiencing symptoms other than a racing heartbeat or if the palpitations are happening very frequently (think several times a day), then it’s probably best to see a doctor. They’ll likely conduct some tests such as an EKG or holter monitor which both detect irregularities in your heart rhythm.

However, remember that sometimes there isn’t an ‘answer’ for why someone’s experiencing palpitations – it could just be one of those things. So don’t sweat it unless your body tells you otherwise!

Quick Fixes

The good news is, there are definitely ways to ease those pesky palpations before they drive us insane! Here are some simple solutions:

Cut back on caffeine or alcohol consumption

I know this seems like a no-brainer but seriously cut back on anything containing caffeine or excessive amounts of alcohol (Sorry party animals!)

Take deep breaths

Breathing exercises may help lower anxiety levels hence reducing chances of triggering off the palpitations cycle.

Try Meditation

Meditation always helps during anxious moments!

Practice relaxation techniques

This kind of speaks for itself- relaxxxxx… ahhh

Seek counselling

Seeing the right mental health professional can lead individuals through emotional support and cognitive behavioral therapy technique thus potentially improving any underlying stressors contributing towards Palpitation development .

Conclusion

In conclusion, hearing odd beats from time-to-time might feel scary but generally does not denote any significant medical problems.
Take note though should quick fixes not work out .Thanks for reading about Palpitation!