What To Do When You Feel Your Heart Racing?

Feeling your heart racing or beating out of rhythm is what we call palpitations in cardiology, and this problem is a symptom that can occur for several reasons. There are cases where the heart rhythm is normal, but the heart rate or beat is elevated. Usually, this occurs related to situations such as physical exercise, anxiety, or other emotions such as happiness. But this symptom can also be associated with a cardiovascular condition known as arrhythmia, which elevates the heart rate because of heart rhythm abnormalities. Learn about Blood pressure management during pregnancy here.

As it is impossible to differentiate the cause of the racing heart by yourself, it is essential to look for a cardiologist or an arrhythmologist to perform the auscultation and, if necessary, some tests to identify whether the problem is every day or needs more attention. But, while the consultation does not arrive, what to do when experiencing this symptom, and when is it cause for concern? That’s what you’ll find out in this article! Keep reading and check it out.

What Makes The Heart Race?

A racing heart can have many causes. They can be classified mainly in two different ways:

cardiac: when the symptom is related to the heart, as in cases of arrhythmia and
non-cardiac: when the racing heart occurs due to other causes, such as emotions or other illnesses

Among the non-cardiac causes, it is typical for other problems, such as hyperthyroidism, obesity, and fever, to cause this symptom. In addition, there are other triggering factors:

smoking
excess alcoholic beverage
very intense physical activity
consumption of stimulating drinks, such as coffee, some teas, and energy drinks
anxiety and
psychological disorders such as panic disorder

When Is Heart Acceleration A Problem?

It’s normal to feel your heart racing in situations involving emotions such as stress, anxiety, and even happiness. It is common for people to feel palpitations when making presentations for the company, when they are in risky situations, or when they are surprised with a romantic dinner, for example. At such times, there is no reason to worry. The problem occurs if the symptom appears when the patient is at rest, and there is no apparent external cause. Another factor that deserves special attention is the frequency and intensity of palpitations.

When palpitation begins to occur daily or more than once a day and brings other symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or feeling faint, you need to seek medical help more urgently. In addition, a racing heart should be a concern among patients with a history of diagnosed heart disease, such as those who have suffered a heart attack or have undergone chronic alterations in this organ. In these cases, extra attention should be given since these patients are at greater risk of suffering cardiac arrhythmias and, consequently, having sudden death.

What To Do When You Feel Your Heart Racing?

We advise everyone who feels their heart racing to see a doctor such as CardioCare for example to understand the cause behind the symptom and ensure that everything is ok, even for patients who experience palpitations only sporadically.

While this recommendation is for everyone, it is even more important when acceleration is prolonged and is associated with other symptoms, such as: