What Exactly Does it Signify When Your Heart Skips a Beat?

09/17/2024

What is Heart Palpitation Referred to as?

It is commonly known as palpitation when the heart beats faster than usual, pounds, or skips heartbeat. You don't need to worry when the heart skips a beat; it is completely normal. However, sometimes, it could be a solid sign of underlying problems.

Plenty of people say that palpitation feels like a heaviness in the chest, neck, and head. The heart may occasionally skip or stop for a brief moment, or there may be a flip-flopping in the chest or neck.

How to Identify the Cause of Heart Palpitation?

Most of the time, palpitations are considered benign, but sometimes they can be serious, too. The reason behind palpitations could be unknown, and tests may not lead to favorable outcomes. If you continue to encounter palpitations and want to be sure that the underlying issues are not leading them, please check with your healthcare provider.

You will be asked to undergo a physical exam during your appointment, and the doctor may ask for your medical history. Based on a physical exam and previous medical history, if the doctor suspects something, they will request to undergo medical tests. Conducted tests will help to find out the underlying cause of heart palpitations.

Blood Tests:

Noticing alterations in blood will assist your doctor in determining the possible underlying causes.

Holter Monitoring:

This is a type of test wherein you are required to wear a monitor for around 24 to 48 hours. The core duty of this device is to record your heart all the time. As a result, this gives the doctor a broader view of your heart's activities.

Electrocardiogram:

This test is carried out to monitor your heart’s electrical signals for a certain period. Sometimes, you might be requested to have an electrocardiogram while exercising. This is also referred to as a treadmill or stress test.

Event Recording:

In case the palpitations seem too irregular for direct monitoring, you might be suggested a different type of device by the doctor. This type of device is worn regularly.  When you start feeling symptoms, you have to use a handheld device to begin recording.   

What are the Common Symptoms of a Heart Skipped Heartbeats?

Heart palpitations can attack anyone anytime without any prior intimation. However, it is more likely to happen at times of stress and traumatic situations. When the heart skips a beat, you may come across uncommon sensations in your neck, chest, and throat. The number of symptoms and their intensity may vary from one person to another, but the most common symptoms are feeling as the heart is:

• Fluttering rapidly

• Skipping beats

• Beating harder than usual

• Beating too fast

Having a mild irregular heartbeat may have various causes. You may encounter mild irregular heart after eating, exercising, COVID-19, alcohol consumption, and binge caffeine consumption. Being pregnant, experiencing menopause, headaches, and having emotional burnout can also cause mild irregular heartbeat.

You may come across episodes of heart palpitations regularly and occasionally. However, most episodes will get fine on their own without seeking medical attention. 

What are the Common Causes of Heart Palpitations and Skipped Heartbeats?

The heart skipping a beat periodically is something you should not stress about. However, if it is skipping beats more frequently without any precise cause, it raises concerns. The following are considered the common causes of heart palpitations:

Stress:

Being under strong emotions such as anxiety and stress can result in heart palpitations. Encountering a stressful situation causes your body to release a hormone named adrenaline. The adrenaline hormone, as a result, increases your heart rate and breathing temporarily and raises your BP. If you remain under stress/pressure for a long time, the heart may continue beating faster than usual or lead to extra beats.

Arrhythmia:

It refers to the alterations in the typical pattern of electrical impulses from the heart, leading to irregular heartbeat. In other words, it is an abnormal heart rhythm wherein the heart beats at an irregular rate and can have serious consequences in the long term. Most arrhythmias are benign, but some can be dangerous and may need immediate medical attention. Therefore, getting medical attention at the right moment can help to rule out unwanted fallouts.

Lifestyle Changes:

The following could also be the possible causes of heart palpitations: dehydration, not getting enough sleep, overconsumption of caffeine, alcohol, and strenuous exercise. The heart may skip a beat due to smoking tobacco and using illegal drugs, for instance, stimulants or cocaine.

Certain Medications:

Certain medications can also lead to heart palpitations. If you are using any of the medications listed down, you are prone to encounter heart palpitations: 

• Antibiotics

• Antihistamine

• Asthma medications

• Antidepressants

• Anti-fungal medications

• Medications for high blood pressure

If the cause behind heart palpitations is medications, please see your doctor. You shouldn’t change or stop any medication without a doctor’s consultation. Heart palpitations, as a side effect of most medications, are common, but still, check with your healthcare provider to be on the safer side.

Hormones:

You might have heart palpitations due to the hormone changes brought on by pregnancy, menopause, and menstruation. Having an overactive thyroid can also contribute to heart palpitations. It is expected to encounter it during such phases, but if it leads to other serious problems, checking with a healthcare provider is the best option.

Heart Disease:

Several heart diseases, including the heart's muscles, arteries, and valves, can lead to heart palpitations. A prior history of a heart attack can also cause palpitations. The most common condition out of all is mitral valve prolapse, which causes heart palpitation. Problems associated with heart muscles and coronary heart disease also result in arrhythmias, causing heart palpitations.

Available Treatments for Heart Palpitations

The precise treatment for palpitations will rely on the exact cause. If factors such as excessive smoking and binge drinking are the reason behind palpitations, making lifestyle changes can lead to fruitful outcomes.

If you are encountering palpitations due to stress, panic attacks, and anxiety, you should opt for stress-managing strategies such as yoga & meditation, and breathing exercises. If these things don’t work out, you can even opt for a therapist.

While some arrhythmias are considered harmless, others may require medical attention with long-term treatment.

If you are someone diagnosed with heart conditions like heart failure, you will be required to stick to a treatment plan that consists of lifestyle changes and medication. In addition to this, not everyone would need treatment; some may even need cardiac catheterization and surgery. 

The Takeaway:

Heart palpitations are not usually something you should be concerned about. Most people don’t need medical attention if they come across the sensation of a rapid, pounding, or fluttering heart. It will get fine on its own without leading to any serious problems. If these sensations last or you think they could be an indication of an underlying health issue, you must see your doctor. The doctor may carry out a few tests to find the precise cause and possible treatments.

FAQs:

1. What deficiency causes skipped heartbeats? 

The following stands out as an example of electrolytes: sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. If the body has electrolytes either too high or too low, it may end up interfering with heart signaling and cause irregular heartbeats. 

2. How do you fix a heart that skips beats?

There are multiple treatments available on the market to treat the condition called palpitations. The treatment will be picked by your doctor based on your symptoms, underlying health issues, ongoing treatments, and many other factors. Therefore, please see your healthcare provider to know the treatment based on your unique needs. In order to manage the irregular heartbeat at home, you can opt for the following ways:

• Try to manage stress

• Limit stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and energy drinks

• Dodge illegal drugs like cocaine and amphetamines

3. What is the most common cause of an irregular heartbeat?

Despite having a healthy heart, you still may have an irregular heartbeat. The following seem to be the common causes of arrhythmia:

• Heart disease

• The healing process after heart surgery

• High blood pressure

• COVID-19 infection

• Infection or fever

• Problems with your thyroid gland

• Anxiety

• Diabetes

• Sleep apnea

• Cardiomyopathy

• Changes in hormone levels

4. What is the best treatment for an irregular heartbeat?

If you are diagnosed with irregular heartbeat, also known as palpitation, the treatment will be suggested based on your health condition. The common treatments for irregular heartbeat are:

• Medications

• Pacemaker

• ICD

• Electrical cardioversion