Tachycardia can have a wide variety of causes. Even though tachycardia is harmless in most cases, it can be a sign of an emergency. Palpitations are also known by the medical term tachycardia and describe a pulse that is too high, that is, a rhythm of the heart that is too fast. Normal is 50 to 100 heartbeats per minute. More than 100 heartbeats per minute in a resting person is called tachycardia and is popularly known as palpitations. Read here what are typical signs as well as classic causes of tachycardia. In addition, learn how to treat tachycardia appropriately.
Tachycardia: Recognizing symptoms
Since tachycardia is usually associated with a general physical activation, it makes itself felt not only directly on the heart, but in the entire organism. Therefore, palpitations are usually associated with many different bodily sensations. Although these signs are often harmless, they can be frightening, especially when they start suddenly. The following symptoms are typically associated with palpitations:
- Throbbing sensation in the chest (palpitations).
- High pulse
- Sweating and wet hands
- Dizziness
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
- Trembling
- Nausea
- Inner restlessness
What causes palpitations?
On the one hand, palpitations can be a healthy adaptation of the body and heart to stress. On the other hand, it can also be a sign of a serious illness. In general, the heart beats faster when the body is exposed to both physical and psychological stress. This is because the body needs more energy and more oxygen under stress: The body then needs to be better supplied with blood. It achieves this via the heart with a faster heartbeat, which in turn feels like palpitations. The following causes can be considered for palpitations:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Sporting activity
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Hyperthyroidism
- Low blood pressure
- Fluid deficiency
Some of these causes are discussed in more detail below.
Causes of palpitations
Palpitations can have many different causes and in most cases are harmless. However, palpitations can also be a serious warning sign of a medical emergency. Therefore, sudden heart palpitations should not be evaluated on their own; environmental factors and current physical activity should also be considered. Depending on when the palpitations occur, the cause can often be inferred. Harmless causes include a rapid heartbeat during excitement and exercise. Hormonal changes shortly before the period in the form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or during pregnancy can also lead to palpitations, often in combination with headaches and sweating.
Low blood pressure as a trigger of palpitations
Low blood pressure right after eating or after getting up is also often the cause of palpitations. In order to increase the low blood pressure, the heart has to beat faster in a compensatory manner. Such low blood pressure usually has harmless causes, but can also indicate heart failure or, in extreme cases, even occur as a concomitant of a heart attack. 6 facts about heart palpitations – iStock.com/Renikca
Heart palpitations and arrhythmias
Often, heart stumbles and other arrhythmias occur along with altered heartbeat speed. This must be distinguished from simple palpitations and is easy to confuse, since both cardiac arrhythmias and palpitations can produce similar symptoms and are perceived by the affected person primarily as palpitations. The best way to find out whether a cardiac arrhythmia is actually present is with the help of an ECG (electrocardiogram) and a physical examination by a doctor. 13 tips for a healthy heart
Thyroid and heart palpitations
The thyroid gland has a great influence on our body activity and metabolism. When the thyroid is overactive, it also leads to increased heart activity, up to and including increased blood pressure and a high pulse. In extreme cases, this can also feel like palpitations. An underactive thyroid or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (a special form of hypothyroidism), on the other hand, tends to produce the opposite: downshifted physical activity, fatigue, weakness and slowed pulse.
Heart palpitations at night
Nighttime palpitations while lying quietly, on the other hand, should be evaluated differently than palpitations during the day after exercise. Nighttime palpitations that occur without external cues can be worrisome and may also indicate illness. However, there are also many harmless causes at night, such as psychosomatic complaints or palpitations after consuming alcohol the night before.
What to do about palpitations?
As soon as the described symptoms, such as trembling, shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea, are noticed, the question quickly arises as to what can be done against palpitations. Often, simple waiting or targeted relaxation exercises help to calm the body and thus also relieve the heart. Sometimes it can help to drink a glass of cold, carbonated water so that you burp. If the heart palpitations occur unexpectedly or in combination with other physical symptoms that worry you, the attending physician should be consulted. In particular, palpitations that occur in combination with sudden loss of consciousness should be medically clarified in more detail to rule out serious diseases of the cardiovascular system.
