HEART PALPITATIONS TREATMENT IN LONDON
What are heart palpitations?
Heart palpitations are the sensation of suddenly being aware of your heartbeat. You may notice a fluttering, thudding or pounding sensation in your chest, neck or ears. Although the sensation can feel strange or a bit unsettling, it’s usually nothing to worry about.
Palpitations might last just a few seconds or continue for a few minutes. They can happen when you’re active, resting or lying in bed at night. Most of the time, they aren’t a sign of anything serious, but it’s always worth speaking to a cardiologist if they start happening more often or feel particularly strong.
Heart palpitation treatment
Heart palpitations can be uncomfortable, but in many cases, they’re completely harmless and go away on their own. Occasionally, they can indicate an underlying heart condition such as an arrhythmia (a problem with the rhythm of your heartbeat).
Seeing a cardiologist for a heart check-up is a good way to be sure.
There are plenty of ways you can manage and stop heart palpitations at home:
- Cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and energy drinks
- Reducing stress through practising breathing exercises or mindfulness
- Avoiding recreational drugs and smoking
- Staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet
- Sleeping on your back or in a more relaxed position
In some cases, lifestyle changes may not be enough, and medication might be needed to help manage your heart rate.
What causes heart palpitations?
There are many potential causes of heart palpitations. Most are harmless and linked to lifestyle or temporary changes in your body, such as:
- Intense emotions, typically stress, anxiety and fear
- Panic attacks
- Strenuous physical activity
- Hormonal changes
- Long-term effects of COVID-19
- Certain medications
- Stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine
- Recreational drugs
Some underlying health conditions can also make heart palpitations more likely. These include things like an overactive or underactive thyroid, dehydration or low iron levels (anaemia).
Certain foods, such as dark chocolate (which contains caffeine), high-sugar foods and spicy foods, may also trigger palpitations in some people. If you’re not sure what’s causing yours, try keeping a simple food diary – it can be really helpful in spotting patterns between what you eat and how your symptoms feel.
When to worry about heart palpitations
In most cases, heart palpitations are nothing to worry about. They’re often linked to common triggers such as caffeine, stress and anxiety.
If one of these is the cause, the feeling should pass within a few minutes. Still, we understand how worrying palpitations can feel in the moment.
Occasionally, palpitations may be a sign of an arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias are harmless, but others may point to a more serious heart issue, which is why it’s important to have them properly assessed.
You should speak to your doctor if:
- You have palpitations that keep coming back
- The sensation lasts longer than a few minutes
- You’ve been told you may have an arrhythmia, but haven’t received a diagnosis
Seek urgent medical advice and call 999 if your palpitations come with any of the following:
- Loss of consciousness
- Angina (chest pain)
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual sweating
- Dizziness
Arrhythmia and heart palpitations
A heart arrhythmia happens when the electrical signals that control your heartbeat stop working as they should. This can make your heart beat too fast, too slow or in an irregular rhythm. While it might sound alarming, many arrhythmias are manageable once diagnosed.
Symptoms of an arrhythmia include:
- Tachycardia (an abnormally fast heartbeat)
- Bradycardia (an abnormally slow heartbeat)
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Fainting
- Dizziness
Symptoms of arrhythmia can be similar to those of an anxiety attack, making it hard to know what’s causing them. If you’re unsure, it’s best to get checked by a cardiologist.
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When to see a cardiologist about heart palpitations
Even if your palpitations don’t seem serious, it’s still worth getting them looked at. Your cardiologist might suggest some heart tests to check how your heart is working.
These tests may include:
Book a cardiology appointment with Dr Karagiannis
If you’re concerned about heart palpitations, don’t wait – early checks can prevent complications. Dr Georgios Karagiannis offers in-depth testing and tailored treatment plans to help you take care of your heart health.
Book your appointment today and receive dedicated care and treatment.
Heart palpitations FAQs
Find the answers to the questions we’re asked about heart palpitations.
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