Facts about Heart Fluttering
Posted: Wednesday, August 10, 2005
by Michael Sanford
Heart fluttering is a condition that most people have experienced at some time or another. It is the sensation of a heart beating too much swiftly or irregularly. Heart fluttering is usually called "palpitations," which are rapid, forceful, regular or irregular heartbeats that are quite noticeable to the individual. A rapid, regular heart fluttering may be associated with sensation of pounding in the neck as well, due to simultaneous contraction of the upper, priming chambers of the heart which is the atria and the lower, main pumping chambers called the ventricles. If the heart fluttering feels very irregular, then it is likely that the underlying rhythm is atrial fibrillation. During this type of rhythm abnormality, the atria beat so rapidly and irregularly that they seem to be quivering, rather than contracting. The ventricles are activated more rapidly than normal and in a very irregular pattern.
While heart fluttering can be a cause of concern to people who experience them, it is usually not a sign of an impending heart attack. For most people who are physically healthy and emotionally well-adjusted, they do not signify an underlying heart disorder but are most commonly caused by physical exertion, anxiety, fear, excessive smoking, too much caffeine, and ingredients in certain medications, including some cough and cold medications. In rare cases, heart fluttering is a long-standing accompaniment to an underlying severe anxiety disorder.
Heart fluttering can also be caused by actual heart disease. This can be distinguished by its particular pattern, depending on how heavy and regular the beating is. A cardiologist may be able to make a diagnosis based on the pattern, or may order an electrocardiogram for more precise information. When symptoms such as sweating, faintness, and chest pain occur with the heart fluttering, it is best to consult a cardiologist. As soon as the heart fluttering cause is determined, most people are able to live and deal with it and would not even notice.
Generally heart fluttering is not dangerous, even if it can provoke anguish, because it is unpleasant to feel the proper heart beating swiftly without reason. If extra beats are enough of a problem to warrant treatment, then usually a beta-blocking drug will be used. These block the effect of adrenaline on the heart, and are also used for the treatment of angina and high blood pressure. However, they can cause increased tiredness, sleep disturbance, depression, impotence, and can aggravate asthma. Other anti-arrhythmic drugs can be used if beta-blockers are not appropriate, but they too have potential side effects.
Heart fluttering which can already cause blackouts or near blackouts should be taken seriously. Even if ultimately nothing untoward is found you should contact your doctor as soon as possible to arrange the appropriate investigations if heart fluttering is associated with blackouts.
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More commentsYes. Very helpful. Thanks for the info.
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hi I have heart flutters too.. Started 3 years ago (i'm now 49) brought on by combination of stress & tiredness. It comes & goes but came back yesterday when heard that my lover was coming to a mutual friends party in my place this saturday night (I own a hotel) with his new girlfriend.. I didn't know it was over how cruel is he!! I have to be there but in total panic! Hense heart do summersalts!!I have learned through my struggle with anxiety, that I don't have to do anything that will make me miserable. Of course, avoiding social situations all together is not the answer, but placing myself in the middle of stress on purpose just isn't an option. Good luck if it is one of those "must do" occasions, but take a vacation if not!!?
My heart has been fluttering but only when i do something suddenly like move my head or when i am swolowing saliva. I also have a sore throat and feeling really, really tired. I am sure it is just some sort of head cold but you never know. Also, i am a 17 year old female.
I used to have panics attacks.. They won't happen over a period of a month and then disappear for a year or so. I ended up in the emergency room a few times and sometimes even passed out for freaking out. Anyways nothing medical helped, they only thing that helped was doing research on why I left this way at times. Once you find out what triggers it and understand that you really cannot die from a panic attack the fear went away. It has been over two year without an episode.
Will a flu shot be the cause for the fluttering as well?flu shots are BAD! dont get them!
Im a 28 year old male and have been having "heart flutters" for years now. They still scare the s### out of me sometimes. Just had a little episode about 20 minutes ago while I was making eggs. After I ate, I stupidly went out to smoke a cigarette. I was already on edge and knew a cig wouldnt help. After I smoked I threw up my food. Cigarettes dont help! I once had an episode for 6 hours. Thought I was going to die. It happened in my sleep and I kept waking up and it was still fluttering every time. I finally got up in full panic mode and called the doctor. They told me to go to the E.R. While I was on the phone with them, I started gagging. When I stopped gagging, my heart was back in normal rhythm. WTF. Apparently coughing or gagging can do that. I went to the doctor months later and he gave me an EKG and it came back sinus arrythmia. I told him everything and he said it was nothing to worry about. Easier said than done. I have a bit of a worrying problem and im sure thats why I have bad anxiety and panic attacks. I still havent had an ECG done but im just going to take the couple doctors ive been too words for it. Cant wait til I get over this BS anxiety. Life is too short to be living like this. Any suggestions?
you need to quit smoking. It doesn't help with your anxiety (it's a stimulant and only makes you more alert and on edge). you'll be amazed at what a good diet and exercise routine will cure. nobody wants to do this and take this route...but I guarantee it'll solve most of anybody's physical problems.
Hi I am 25 years old and I have absolutly no idea why I have had an anxiety disorder, I have never worried my whole life growing up, as a matter of fact I have always been such a happy, energetic and athletic person and when I was 21 I got strep throat and never went to the doctor and laid around for a few months thinking of bad things constantly and 3 years later I'm still down the same road. I started having the heart palpitations/flutters like 2 years ago very lightly but I've become such a hypocondriac that I freak out by feeling the tiniest thing like being to hot or cold or even when I get tired sometimes I think something is wrong, but I have noticed that since last year when my first love was killed in a car accident that I can't stop thinking about death all the time and my heart flutters got worse, it feels like it takes my breath away for 1. Second and it scares me to death. I just want to know what's going on and I went to the doctor like 7 months ago over this and he said my heart looks good and normal, is this anxiety really causing this horrible problam?
I am a 41 year old female and with in the last week been having heart paulpations. I a kinda worried about it. I have start a lupron start but the paulpations started before that. I do drink lots and lots of caffine but I have for years. I also have anxiety and panic attacks. I still don't know what to think. Should I get my doctor involved or keep and eye out. I don't have any other systems with thats whats werid about it.
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