Palpitations

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Palpitations (pal-pi-TAY-shuns) are pounding or racing feelings in your heart. You may become suddenly aware of your heartbeat, or feel that your heartbeat is not normal. You may feel skipped beats (pauses), extra beats, a "flip-flopping" sensation, or a flutter in your chest. Palpitations may be frightening, but are usually not a serious problem.
  
  
• Palpitations may be caused by nicotine in cigarettes, drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, or exercising too hard. Stress or anxiety may also cause you to have heart palpitations. Sometimes palpitations may be caused by heart problems or certain medicines. Treatment depends on what is causing the palpitations and the symptoms you may have. Living a healthier lifestyle, decreasing stress, and getting plenty of rest may help. Palpitations caused by certain medical problems may need medicines to treat.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a list of your medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Do not take any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver.
  
  
• Medicines to avoid: Some over-the-counter medicines may increase your chance of having heart palpitations. Avoid medications that have epinephrine, ephedrine, or ephedra. Examples of these medicines include cough and cold medicines, asthma medicines, weight loss foods and medicines, and herbal supplements. Talk to your caregiver before using any of these products. Do not use cocaine or other street drugs.

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Care advice:

• Keep a record of your symptoms: Use a notebook or calendar to keep track of your palpitations. Write down when they start and stop, what you were doing when they started, and your symptoms. Record anything you ate or drank within a few hours of the start of your palpitations. Write down how you were feeling before the palpitations started. For example, were you stressed or tired? Write down anything that seemed to help your symptoms, such as lying down or holding your breath. This record will help you learn what may trigger your palpitations. Bring this record with you when you see your caregiver.
  
  
• Control other health problems: If you have other illnesses like diabetes, thyroid problems, or high blood pressure, you need to control them. Take medicines as directed.
  
  
• Diet: Eat a healthy variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, and protein (meat, beans, and fish). Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy. Avoid foods and drinks that contain caffeine. Examples of things that may have caffeine include coffee, teas, colas, and chocolate. Talk to your caregiver about a weight loss plan if you are overweight. Weighing too much can make your heart work harder and can cause serious health problems.
  
  
• Drinking liquids: Most people should drink six to eight (8-ounce) cups of healthy liquids each day. Follow your caregiver's advice if you must limit the amount of liquid you drink. For most people, healthy liquids to drink are water, juices, and milk. Try to drink enough liquid each day, not just when you feel thirsty. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after hard activity.
  
  
• Exercise: Talk to your caregiver before you start exercising. Together you can plan the best exercise program for you. It is best to start slowly and do more as you get stronger. Exercising makes the heart stronger, lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy.
  
  
• Quit smoking: It is never too late to quit smoking. Smoking harms the heart, lungs, and the blood. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. You will help yourself and those around you by not smoking. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to stop smoking if you are having trouble quitting.
  
  
• Stress: Stress may slow healing and cause illness later. Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control it. Learn new ways to relax, such as deep breathing, meditation, relaxing muscles, music, or biofeedback. Talk to someone about things that upset you.

Coping with palpitations: You may feel scared, confused, or anxious because of your heart palpitations. Call or write the following for more information about heart disease and rhythm problems.

• American Heart Association National Center
  7272 Greenville Avenue
  Dallas, TX 75231-4596
  Phone: 1-800-242-8721
  Web Address: http://www.americanheart.org
  

• Heart Rhythm Society
  1400 K Street NW, Ste 500
  Washington, DC 20005
  Phone: 1-202-464-3400
  Web Address: www.hrsonline.org
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You are having new symptoms that your caregiver does not know about, or your palpitations get worse.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing while resting.
  
  
• You have new or worsening swelling in your feet or ankles.
  
  
• You have any questions or concerns about your illness or medicine.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Chest pain, tightness, or pressure that lasts more than a minute or two. The discomfort may spread to your shoulders, arms, jaw, neck, or back. The discomfort may be a burning that feels like heartburn.
  
  
• Feeling very short of breath.
  
  
• Feeling faint, or too dizzy to stand up.
  
  
• Sudden onset of weakness or numbness (loss of feeling) in your arms or legs.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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