After climbing several flights of stairs, your heart feels like it’s going to burst out of your chest. This is a natural response to the exertion. However, frequent heart palpitations that happen unexpectedly could indicate a more serious issue.
To help you understand your heart palpitations, cardiologist Dr. James Kim and our team have put together a guide on the rhythm of your heart.
Recognizing Your Heartbeat and Palpitations
Every day, your heart beats around 100,000 times to circulate oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body. This number becomes even more impressive when you consider that a heart will beat about 2.5 billion times over an average human lifespan.
To perform this incredible task, your heart maintains a specific rhythm, usually beating 60-100 times per minute. Any change in this rhythm can become noticeable as heart palpitations, which might feel like:
- Fluttering
- A racing or pounding heart
- The sensation of your heart skipping a beat
- A flip-flopping feeling
In essence, a heart palpitation is simply an awareness of your heartbeat, so the symptoms might differ from this list and be unique to you.
Understanding The Causes of Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations can happen for various reasons, and fortunately, most are situational and not serious. For instance, climbing stairs can cause your heart to work harder, which is normal and usually resolves within a few minutes.
Temporary causes of heart palpitations include consuming caffeine, experiencing a scare, or stress. Similar to exercise-induced palpitations, these are typically short-lived.
However, if you experience heart palpitations frequently and for unknown reasons, they may indicate a more serious condition, such as:
- Thyroid imbalances
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia)
- Early heartbeats (premature ventricular contractions)
To determine if your heart palpitations are a cause for concern, schedule an evaluation with us.
Diagnosing Heart Palpitations
To determine if your heart palpitations require medical attention, we perform several key diagnostic tests. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical impulses in your heart, while an echocardiogram assesses the size and structure of your heart.
If these tests are inconclusive, we may recommend a Holter monitor, which records your heart’s activity for up to 48 hours.
After evaluating your heart’s function through these tests, we can decide if treatment is necessary or if the palpitations are harmless.
For answers about your heart palpitations, please contact one of our offices in National City or Chula Vista, California, to set up an appointment.
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Heart Palpitations, Irregular Heartbeat, Stress and Heart Health
