Therapy and treatment | Tachycardia after a meal – How dangerous is it?

Therapy and treatment

For the therapy of heart palpitations caused by early dumping, it is recommended to spread the meals in small portions throughout the day and to pay attention to a low sugar content. In many cases, the symptoms reduce on their own about one month after the stomach operation. However, if the palpitations and the remaining symptoms, such as heavy sweating and nausea, remain, the doctor may consider having another stomach operation.

The therapy for late dumping includes a planned, carbohydrate-rich snack about two to three hours after the last food intake. In this way the increased insulin release is intercepted and the palpitations subside. Medication that reduces the parasympathetic effect can help, as it can slow down the activity of the digestive tract and keep the extent of dumping small.

If there is a further increased release of insulin that causes heart palpitations, the cause must be treated. In the case of islet cell enlargement of the pancreas, for example, a drug that selectively opens potassium channels can be used to reduce the release of insulin. In the case of an insulin-producing tumor, tumor removal is recommended in addition to the aforementioned medication.

In the case of hyperthyroidism, drugs that reduce hormone production must be used or radioiodine therapy must be used to reduce the functional thyroid tissue. A dietary adjustment in case of intolerance or flatulence can also be recommended for therapy. In any case, in the case of palpitations after meals, a specialist doctor should be consulted, who can consider further measures for therapy. In some cases therapy is again not necessary, but this must be decided by a doctor who can better assess the situation.

Duration of heart palpitations

Tachycardia or heart rhythm disturbances close to the food are usually only of short duration of a few minutes to a maximum of several hours. It is not to be assumed that larger portions of food will also lead to longer-lasting cardiac arrhythmia or that the composition of the food will allow conclusions to be drawn about its duration. Rather, it is the susceptibility of each person to develop rhythm disturbances that decides on the one hand on the development and then also on the duration.