Introduction
Heart stuttering as a symptom is also known in common parlance as heart failure or palpitations, and is referred to in medical jargon as a form of cardiac arrhythmia. To be more precise, it causes additional beats of the heart outside its actual rhythm, also known as extrasystole, which can then cause unpleasant symptoms. There are several signs of a heart stumble, which are described in more detail on this page.
Symptoms
A heart stumble does not always have to be physical. In this respect, many people do not notice any symptoms. However, if symptoms do occur, they can be quite different depending on the circumstances.
You will find the most common ones here as an overview:
- Sudden change in heart rhythm
- Shortness of breath and dizziness
- Psychological symptoms
- Vegetative or neurological symptoms
- Cough or sore throat
- Stomach complaints
Initially, symptoms may occur that originate directly from the heart. These include a fast or slow heart rhythm, the interruption of a heartbeat or a pounding of the heart against the chest. If these symptoms occur rarely, in isolation and without further complaints, they can be considered harmless and normal.
If, however, the symptoms persist for a longer period of time, are more frequent over time, and if there are other, more non-heart-specific symptoms such as an uneasy feeling in the chest area, shortness of breath and dizziness, a doctor should be consulted for medical clarification to rule out a basic organic disease. If symptoms persist for a longer period of time, are more frequent over time, and if other, more non-specific symptoms such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath and dizziness occur, a doctor should be consulted for a medical examination to rule out a basic organic disease. In addition, many people experience psychological symptoms such as anxiety and panic, especially when the heart rhythm changes noticeably.
In this case, relaxation exercises such as autogenic training would help, since many cases of heart stumbling occur in people with a nervous disposition and so the symptoms could persist in a feedback mechanism. In most cases, the autonomic nervous system is also stimulated, resulting in symptoms such as sweating, nausea and the need to urinate. This is partly psychosomatic, meaning that psychological triggers such as stress and fear can result in physical symptoms.
It is important to know that the heart puts in a lot of work and that isolated, instantaneous rhythm disturbances are usually harmless. Since the psyche has a strong modulating influence on the autonomous heart, i.e. the heart is fundamentally independent in its activity, stress, restlessness and anxiety are harmful to the heart via the nervous system and thus also via the so-called vegetative nervous system. Calm and inner balance have the same effect.
Therefore, in many cases of symptomatic heart stumbles, the symptoms disappear when the heart is relaxed. The severity of the heart stutter can vary depending on the severity and type of the rhythm disturbances and on the individual sensitivity. Heart stumbling, i.e. the unrhythmic heartbeat and the short interruptions of the heartbeat, can sometimes be clearly felt, as if the heartbeat were felt down to the throat, the carotid artery or the head.
This pulsating feeling in the throat can sometimes trigger a coughing impulse, so that a stumbling heart can occasionally be accompanied by a reflexive cough. Patients who suffer from a heart stumble often report different symptoms. Exactly which symptoms occur in the case of a heart stumble depends primarily on the frequency and exact form of the heart stumble.
Particularly if the heart action is markedly irregular, the symptoms can sometimes radiate down to the throat. Patients in whom a disturbance of the regular heartbeat without an increase in frequency can be detected describe the characteristic pause between the extra beat and the next normal heartbeat as extremely frightening. It is not the actual extra beat, but rather the next normal heartbeat that is often felt like a drumbeat or a strong throb in the throat.
This form of heart stumbling, where the symptoms are often felt in the throat, is the most common form of heart rhythm disturbance. For a healthy person, the thumping symptoms in the throat are completely harmless. Medical treatment is usually not necessary.However, if suddenly pain in the neck should occur, a doctor must be consulted immediately.
This also applies to sudden, severe pain in the chest, which radiates into the left shoulder. Under certain circumstances, a heart attack may be present in the affected persons. This clinical picture is life-threatening and requires urgent medical clarification.
In addition, the heart stumbling can also be accompanied by symptoms in the stomach area. The heart stumbling can possibly first manifest itself in the form of slight, oppressive symptoms in the stomach. For this reason, some of the patients affected initially assume that they are suffering from an illness of the stomach.
Furthermore, various diseases of the stomach, or rather the medical treatment of these diseases, can promote the development of heart flutter. Especially so-called proton pump inhibitors (for example omeprazole or pantoprazole) can lead to cardiac arrhythmia in the form of heart stumbling. Proton pump inhibitors are used to block the production of stomach acid.
In this way, serious diseases of the stomach, caused for example by the long-term use of painkillers, can be avoided. Persons who are dependent on the use of proton pump inhibitors over a long period of time and who develop symptoms of heart stuttering should urgently inform the attending physician about the medication they are taking. In such cases, the symptoms can usually be significantly relieved by discontinuing the proton pump inhibitors.
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