What is Heart Palpitation?
Symptoms of Heart Palpitations and Irregular Heartbeat
Root Causes of Heart Palpitations
Natural Remedies to Instantly Stop Heart Palpitations
Precautions to Take for Continuous Heart Palpitations
What is Heart Palpitation?
Irregular Heartbeat is also known as Heart Palpitations (Scientific), Dil ki tej dhadakan (Hindi / Urdu), Hriday or Chatit Dhad Dhadane (Marathi), Itaya patapatappu (Tamil), Gunde Dada (Telugu), Xinzang xinji (Chinese), Palpitaciones del corazon (Spanish), Palpitacoes cardiacas (Portuguese), Hriday buka dharaphara (Bengali), Uchashchennoye serdtsebiyeniye (Russian), Palpitasi Jantung (Indonesian). Palpitation are nothing but the fast or irregular heartbeat. The average heart beats are about 72 times a minute and pumps about 3,600 gallons of blood a day. During exercise, the pumping action automatically increases three or four fold, in response to the tissues demand for increased oxygen. Pounding in the chest following exercise and uncomfortable awareness of a rapid heart rate when anxious are some common symptoms of palpitation. Palpitations are quite common and usually harmless, often brought on by physical exertion or fright. Frequent or prolonged palpitations, may be an indication of heart disease, particularly if accompanied by dizziness, fainting, or chest pain. The sensation of a “missed” beat is due to a premature ectopic beat followed by a compensatory gap before the next beat. This can be induced by excitement, anxiety, or stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine.
Symptoms of Heart Palpitations and Irregular Heartbeat
Spurred on by a steady series of electrical impulses, your heart normally beats with such regularity that you don’t even notice it. But if this electrical system develops a glitch, you may experience palpitations that is a fluttering or pounding sensation in your chest as your heart beats too fast or “skips a beat.” Palpitations do sometimes indicate a serious problem with your heart. But most cases are caused simply by fatigue, anxiety, illness, or stress. While worrisome, they generally don’t require medical treatment. Arrhythmias are much worse than the more common heart palpitations, a condition in which the heart occasionally seems to skip a beat or two. Heart palpitations are often minor and self-correcting. Cardiac arrhythmias are not. They often don’t normalize by themselves, and they can lead to a potentially fatal heart attack. Arrhythmias are usually diagnosed in people over age 50.
Root Causes of Heart Palpitations
Palpitations are a common side effect of too much coffee drinking. Heart palpitations can be also due to hyperthyroidism, food allergies, panic attacks, tension, folic acid deficiency, diabetes, hot flashes, high blood pressure, anxiety, fibromyalgia, stress, menopause or hypoglycemia. Many prescription and over the counter drugs can cause palpitations, so check the package insert. It might say something like: “Do not use this product if you have heart disease or high blood pressure.” Or it might give a specific warning about the drug’s effect on heartbeat. Pay close attention to over-the-counter cold and allergy medications that contain decongestants. One ingredient that is frequently implicated is pseudoephedrine. Diet remedy or supplement containing the ingredient ma huang, or ephedra can sharply increase risk of irregular heartbeat or palpitations, sometimes with dangerous consequences.
Natural Remedies to Instantly Stop Heart Palpitations
- Calm Down: As soon as you notice an irregular heartbeat, sit down and prop up your feet. Breathe slowly and deeply, letting your belly expand with each inhalation. If you focus on slow, steady breathing, your heartbeat will probably return to its normal rhythm right away.
- Terminalia Arjuna – Indian Herb: Boil 1/2 cup each of milk and water, add 1/2 teaspoon of arjuna and 2 pinches of saffron, and take twice or 3 times a day. This good remedy for both chest pain and heart palpitations. Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) is well known Indian herb useful for heart diseases.
- Valerian: It is a herbal sleeping aid. Valerian is best known as an herbal sleep aid, and with good reason. But valerian also contains proven anti-arrhythmic compounds. This herb was used for arrhythmias and palpitations in Roman times. Valerian also has other heart benefits such as it lowers blood pressure, increases blood flow to the heart and improves the heart’s pumping ability. This herb smells pretty foul. Try a tea made with one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Drink two to three cups a day. If you can’t handle the taste, try capsules or a tincture instead. Both the dried herb and tincture are available at health food stores or herb shops. Follow the package directions.
- Mullein: It is a natural medicine for heart. The French herbalists recommends mullein for palpitations, irregular heartbeat, angina and other coronary distress. Simmer 2 handfuls of coarsely cut leaves and flowers in 1 1/2 qtrs. boiling water for an hour, covered, until about 1 pint remains. Strain and add 3 tbsp. blackstrap molasses and 1/2 tsp. glycerin to give it longer shelf life. Take 1 tbsp. of this syrup twice daily in between meals, once in the morning and again in the evening; or more if pressure builds up in the heart.
- Lemon Balm: It is very useful if palpitations are due to anxiety or tension headache. Lemon balm is a relaxing tonic for anxiety, mild depression, restlessness, and insomnia. It reduces feelings of panic and is a valuable remedy for palpitations of a nervous origin. For all such conditions, take as an infusion or tincture 2–3 times a day with additional doses if required.
- Honey: Honey has marvelous properties to prevent all sorts of heart disease. It tones up the heart and improves the circulation. It is also effective in cardiac pain and palpitation of the heart. One tablespoonful daily after food is sufficient to prevent all sorts of heart troubles.
- Lobelia: Another herb which helps calm heart palpitations is Lobelia. This herb will also help clear congestion throughout the body, including in the blood vessels. Lobelia is a very powerful relaxing herb.
- Motherwort: This herb is good for heart and thyroid problems. Motherwort, a perennial herb, grows in much of Europe and North America is used for centuries to treat heart palpitations. Motherwort is a key remedy for palpitations and irregular heartbeat, especially when they are linked with anxiety or an overactive thyroid. Small, frequent doses (a few drops of tincture) can sometimes be sufficient to control such problems.
- Grapes: Fruits and vegetables in general are highly beneficial in the treatment of heart disease. Grapes are effective in heart pain and palpitation of the heart and the disease can be rapidly controlled if the patient adopts an exclusive grapes diet for few days. Grape juice, especially will be valuable when one is actually suffering from a heart attack.
- Bugleweed: Bugleweed (Lycopus) specifically influences the lungs and heart. If palpitations are due to overactive thyroid then bugleweed is very effective. It increases myocardial contraction, strengthen the heartbeat, lower the heart rate and eases nervous tachycardia and palpitations. Bugleweed should not be used in cases of under-active thyroid, also called hypothyroidism, nor should it be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Calming Oils: Effective in case of palpitations due to stress. If your palpitations are linked to emotional causes, calming oils such as ylang ylang, marjoram, lavender, and mandarin will help. Place a few drops in the bath, or use in regular massage. Carry a bottle with you, and sniff in times of distress.
- Avoid Caffeine: Certain foods such as caffeine and many soft drinks, causes nervousness, irritability and palpitation. Try to avoid as much as possible.
- Chinese Herbalism: Treatment would be aimed at addressing a Heart Blood deficiency, and may include the use of asparagus root and wild jujube seed.
- Rehmania: It is a recommendation by Chinese herbalism. Take Rehmania (Rehmania glutinosa) 25 to 100 mg daily. This Chinese herb has a cooling effect and reduces hot flashes, night sweats, heart palpitations, and other common menopause symptoms.
- Hawthorn: It is good for coronary diseases. Hawthorn is not a cure-all for heart and circulatory disorders, but if used carefully and when taken long-term, it will lead to improvement in cardiovascular health. Hawthorn works directly on the heart to slow its rate, improve oxygen uptake, and increase its pumping efficiency. Specific indications include palpitations and heart irregularity.
- Exercise: Regular exercise good for healthy heart. Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three or four times a week. Walking, running, and tennis are all excellent choices. Just be sure you don’t become too focused on beating your previous time or outscoring an opponent—that will increase your stress. Exercise at a pace that allows you to comfortably carry on a conversation. Warm up for 10 minutes before each workout and for 10 minutes afterward.
- Pericardium 6: If you tend to get heart palpitations when you’re agitated, take some time out of a tense situation to work Pericardium 6. This spot is located at your wrist, so it’s easy to use even in a public place like the office. If you suffer from anxiety that leads to heart palpitations, work Pericardium 6. You can use this point as part of a daily practice, or you can press it whenever you feel tension coming on.
- Reduce Stress Naturally: If you are experiencing palpitations, there is a good chance that stress is to blame. In fact, palpitations can be the body’s way of alerting you that your stress level has exceeded the safe range. Meditating helps get your stress level back down. So set aside 30 minutes each day just to let your body relax and your mind unwind.
- Good Rest: Soothe yourself with aromatherapy. Sprinkle a few drops of relaxing lavender oil onto a handkerchief, and inhale the pleasant aroma. Or try rubbing two drops of bitter orange oil on your chest. Get at least seven hours of sleep each night. Being tired can set the stage for out of rhythm heartbeats.
- Treat Irregular Heart Beats: If the fluttering continues, do the Valsalva maneuver: Pinch your nose, close your mouth, then try to exhale. Since you can’t – because your nose and mouth are closed – you’ll bear down as if you were forcing a bowel movement (or pushing out a baby during childbirth). The brief rise in blood pressure that results should help reset your heart. The Valsalva technique is named after 17th century Italian anatomist Antonio Maria Valsalva.
- Restore Heart to Regular Rhythm: Cough forcefully. Coughing increases pressure inside your chest. Sometimes that’s all you need to restore your heart to its regular rhythm.
- Prevent is Better: Many people claim that cutting back on sweets will help prevent palpitations. Any food that causes sharp changes in blood sugar can contribute to palpitations. If you’re a “sweet food junkie” and you have palpitations, try cutting back. You may find that palpitations diminish or cease.
- Avoid Palpitation Triggers: Eat plenty of fish. Salmon and mackerel in particular contain high levels of heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids. Avoid eating too much at one time. Forcing your body to digest a huge load of food diverts blood from your heart to your digestive tract. That can lead to palpitations. Cut back on caffeine. In some people, drinking caffeinated coffee, tea, or soft drinks triggers palpitations.
Precautions to Take for Continuous Heart Palpitations
About 36 million times a year, your heart beats exactly when it’s supposed to. So why sweat it if your ticker occasionally marches to a different drummer? Because palpitations can be unnerving. Fortunately, there are ways to stop them almost as soon as they start. Better yet, prevent them from happening in the first place by practicing stress reducing techniques, screening your medications, and adding some heart healthy foods and supplements to your menu. Unless you have a history of heart disease, there’s generally no reason to alert your doctor that you’re having palpitations, unless they occur more than once a week, become more frequent, or are accompanied by a feeling of light headedness or dizziness. Of course, if you pass out or experience tightness in your chest accompanied by nausea and sweating, call an ambulance at once. You might be having a heart attack.