Introduction
Heart stumbling is a form of cardiac arrhythmia. In the technical jargon it is called extrasystole. These are additional beats of the heart that do not correspond to the normal heart rhythm. They are caused by complex false impulses in the cardiac conduction system. Heart stumbling can often occur after eating.
Causes of heart palpitations after eating
If heart stumbling occurs more frequently after eating, it can be the so-called Roemheld syndrome. This is a complex of symptoms associated with excessive food intake or the intake of highly bloated food. Due to the amount of food or the formation of gas, the diaphragm is pushed upwards, towards the heart.
This pressure on the heart can lead to various complaints, including heart stumbling. Occasionally, heart stumbling can also occur after a meal, for example if caffeinated food (tiramisu, espresso after a meal) has been consumed. Caffeine activates the cardiovascular system and is suspected of causing occasional heart flutter.
Thyroid gland dysfunction can cause heart flutter. In particular, overactive thyroid glands can cause extrasystoles. Heart flutter, which occurs after eating, occurs independently of thyroid gland disorders. However, heart stumbling can occur due to thyroid disease as well as more frequently after meals. One does not therefore exclude the other.
Diagnosis of heart stumbling after a meal
The exact anamnesis is crucial for the diagnosis. In addition, the heart stumbling must be depicted by means of an ECG to be sure that it is an extrasystole and not a more serious heart rhythm disturbance. In most cases, a simple ECG is not sufficient to detect extrasystoles, as these do not occur continuously and an ECG only records the heart action for about 10 seconds.
An ECG recording over 24 hours increases the probability of recording the heart stumble. It also has the advantage that it also covers the post-meal phase due to the recording over 24 hours. This is crucial if the heart flutter occurs mainly after a meal.
Further examinations may follow to rule out diseases of the heart such as calcification of the coronary arteries (coronary heart disease) or cardiomyopathy or other diseases such as thyroid dysfunction. Examinations such as cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography), exercise ECG (ergometry) and blood tests are possible. If a Roemheld syndrome is present, it may be helpful to rule out food intolerances such as lactose or fructose intolerance.
Heart stumbling is only dangerous in very few cases, even though it often feels unsettling for those affected when the heart gets out of rhythm. Especially when a heart stumbling occurs regularly after large or heavily bloated meals, this is an indication that no dangerous heart disease is the cause. However, if the stumbling heart leads to symptoms such as shortness of breath or dizziness, a doctor should be consulted.
This doctor can then decide whether a more precise diagnosis is necessary. Heart stumbling after eating is in most cases no reason to consult a doctor. Heart flutter occurs very frequently in young, completely healthy people. However, if symptoms such as dizziness or shortness of breath occur due to the heart stumbling and these symptoms recur, a doctor should be consulted for further clarification. A doctor should also be consulted immediately in the event of symptoms such as a feeling of pressure on the chest or radiating pain in the neck, jaw or left arm.
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