Palpitations

From WikiMD.com - Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

(Redirected from Palpitation)

Dr.Prab.jpg

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Palpitations
Pietro Longhi 027.jpg
Synonyms N/A
Pronounce N/A
Specialty N/A
Symptoms Sensation of rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat
Complications Anxiety, fainting, stroke, heart failure
Onset Sudden or gradual
Duration Seconds to minutes
Types N/A
Causes Stress, anxiety, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, exercise, medications, arrhythmia
Risks Heart disease, thyroid disease, anemia, electrolyte imbalance
Diagnosis Electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter monitor, event monitor, blood tests
Differential diagnosis Anxiety disorder, panic attack, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma
Prevention N/A
Treatment Addressing underlying cause, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antiarrhythmic drugs
Medication Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers
Prognosis N/A
Frequency Common
Deaths Rarely directly causes death


A sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeat


Palpitations[edit | edit source]

Palpitations are the perceived abnormality of the heartbeat characterized by awareness of cardiac muscle contractions in the chest. They can be felt as a rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat. Palpitations can be a normal response to stress, anxiety, or physical exertion, but they can also indicate an underlying medical condition.

Causes[edit | edit source]

Palpitations can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

The primary symptom of palpitations is the sensation of a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Other symptoms that may accompany palpitations include:

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Diagnosing the cause of palpitations involves a thorough medical history and physical examination. Additional tests may include:

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment for palpitations depends on the underlying cause. Options may include:

Prevention[edit | edit source]

Preventing palpitations involves managing risk factors and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Recommendations include:

When to Seek Medical Attention[edit | edit source]

While palpitations are often harmless, it is important to seek medical attention if they are accompanied by:

See also[edit | edit source]

WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD