Doctors get rid of heart palpitations by first identifying the cause, then using medications (like beta-blockers), lifestyle changes (reducing caffeine, stress), procedures (cardiac ablation, cardioversion), or implantable devices (pacemakers, ICDs) to control or correct the irregular heartbeat, aiming to restore a normal rhythm or manage the underlying condition.
Treatment of heart palpitations
But if a heart condition or other medical issue is causing your palpitations, your doctor will focus on treating the underlying cause. For instance: Arrhythmias. Medications or procedures (such as catheter ablation) may be used to treat arrhythmias.
Diarrhea itself can cause dehydration, which may trigger palpitations. This could happen with a stomach bug or food poisoning. But palpitations should never be ignored. Call your doctor or get medical help right away for any new palpitations.
Palpitations in children are usually normal and caused by stress, exercise, dehydration, fever, caffeine, or certain medications, but rarely indicate a serious issue like an arrhythmia or thyroid problem, especially if accompanied by chest pain, fainting, or shortness of breath, requiring a doctor's visit. Common triggers include anxiety, energy drinks, dehydration, asthma inhalers, and even excitement, while less common but more serious causes involve heart electrical issues or hormonal imbalances.
To lower your risk of palpitations, drink plenty of water, avoid caffeine and never drink alcohol while pregnant. Practice deep breathing exercises to calm your mind and relax your body. If you have heart palpitations along with chest pain, trouble breathing or dizziness, get help right away.
The most appropriate way to treat palpitations at home is to avoid the triggers that cause the symptoms.
Five key warning signs during pregnancy needing immediate medical attention include vaginal bleeding, severe headaches with vision changes, decreased baby movement, severe abdominal pain/cramping, and signs of preterm labor like regular contractions or fluid leakage, as these can signal serious issues like miscarriage, preeclampsia, placental problems, or infection. Always contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency care for these symptoms.
Anyone can have heart palpitations. But they're more common in females. People can get heart palpitations at different times in their lives. You can get them as a teenager, during pregnancy or during menopause, for example.
Heart palpitations are often mistaken for atrial fibrillation (AFib), a more serious condition that occurs when your heart beats too quickly, too slowly or irregularly (also called arrhythmia).
Seek emergency medical attention if heart palpitations occur with: Chest discomfort or pain. Fainting. Severe shortness of breath.
Heart palpitations are common during perimenopause and are linked to the changes in both estrogen and progesterone. Perimenopause is the stage I often refer to as a hormonal roller coaster because estrogen may fluctuate more erratically, its levels rise and fall, while progesterone levels do the same.
Symptoms of AFib include “palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness and maybe some chest pressure,” Dr. Dominic said. But “the most common symptom of AFib—which is the most underappreciated symptom—is fatigue.”
Gastrocardiac syndrome (Roemheld syndrome) is a condition where digestive issues like bloating or acid reflux can trigger heart-related symptoms such as palpitations or irregular heartbeat. Early diagnosis is crucial to distinguish it from serious cardiac conditions and ensure proper treatment.
Thyroid function tests – show if you have an underactive or overactive thyroid gland. If your levels are abnormal, they can be related to some heart conditions and symptoms linked to having a slow or fast heart rate, or palpitations.
Causes of Heart Palpitations
Thyroid disease, low blood sugar, anaemia, low blood pressure, fever, and dehydration are some medical disorders. Hormone changes that occur during menstruation, during pregnancy, or right before menopause. Anaemia-related palpitations can occasionally occur during pregnancy.
As with other hormone imbalances, thyroid issues can cause a wide variety of symptoms. One of those symptoms is heart palpitations, which happen when you are aware of your heartbeat if it becomes fast-paced or irregular.
Conditions That Can Look Like AFib
At what point should someone seek medical care for an irregular heartbeat? In general, if you have any kind of palpitations lasting 30 seconds or longer you should consult with your primary care physician as well as a cardiologist.
Vagus nerve induced palpitation is felt as a thud, a hollow fluttery sensation, or a skipped beat, depending on at what point during the heart's normal rhythm the vagus nerve fires.
Many people are unaware of minor irregular heartbeats, and even completely healthy people have extra or skipped heartbeats once in a while. Palpitations are more common as you age. Usually, these occasional arrhythmias are nothing to worry about.
“Smoking is one of the most harmful things people can do to themselves,” Dr. Maniar says. Blood flow drops, slashing oxygen that fuels the heart, which compensates by spiking blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, and can lead to hardened and narrowed arteries and blood clots causing cardiovascular disease.
Note: heart palpitations sometimes signal a heart attack or stroke if they occur along with other symptoms. Call 911 if you also experience shortness of breath; chest pain or pressure; chest discomfort that radiates into your arms, back, stomach, neck, or jaw; or sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness.
The "3-2-1 Rule" in pregnancy is a guideline for first-time mothers to know when to call their midwife or doctor for active labor: consistent contractions every 3 minutes, lasting 2 minutes each (or 1 minute long for some variations), for over 1 hour. It helps differentiate true labor from false labor (Braxton Hicks), signaling it's time to head to the birthing center, while subsequent pregnancies often follow the faster 5-1-1 rule.
Most pregnancy symptoms don't start until four to six weeks after conception. While many of the symptoms are common, it's possible to experience no symptoms during the first trimester of pregnancy. The most common early symptoms include a missed period, light bleeding, breast changes or tenderness, and fatigue.
Some people have an early ultrasound (also called a first-trimester ultrasound or dating ultrasound). This can happen as early as seven to eight weeks of pregnancy. Providers do an early ultrasound through your vagina (transvaginal ultrasound).