Just about anything could make your heart start to race or
pound, or skip a beat. These sensations are known as heart palpitations, which
are a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence for most people, mostly caused by a
harmless hiccup in the heart’s rhythm.
According to the American Heart Association, when your heart
“skips a beat”, it’s actually felt like an extra beat medically defined as a
premature beat which are of two types- a premature atrial contraction in the
top chamber of the heart and a premature ventricular contraction from the lower
heart chamber. The good thing is most premature beats don’t necessarily mean
there’s something wrong with the structure of your ticker. But you should consult
with your doctor if the premature beats occur frequently or are accompanied
with shortness of breath or chest pain- to rule out something serious.
The heart skipping a beat can be the result of a number of
factors, including:
Excess
Caffeine Consumption- Caffeine stimulates the stress hormones, like adrenaline,
that makes the heart beat faster increasing blood flow to the brain and muscles,
which aggravates abnormal heart rhythms, like skipped beats. Better you reduce
your intake by drinking decaf or you can also switch to tea, and see if these make
any difference.
Stress- It’s a
no-brainer that stress is never good for your health, especially when it comes
to your heart. Your brain activates its fight-or-flight response thanks to a
surge of adrenaline when you are under stress, so that your body can quickly
react to the stressor. In view of this sudden increase in stress hormones, like
cortisol, your heart may skip a beat because it’s working harder to increase
the blood supply to your muscles, heart, and other vital organs. Find ways to
manage your stress.
Inadequate
Sleep- When you haven’t received good quality sleep, your body
tries to make up for the lack of sleep by releasing certain hormones to deal
with the stress (one feels tired and irritated after a sleepless night). It is
these hormones that trigger those extra beats. Experts recommend seven to eight
hours of sleep every night as a quick fix solution.
An
Underlying Heart Condition- You need to be aware of premature beats that occur
frequently, double up, or beat three times in a row at a fast rhythm since
these can indicate a hidden health problem and pose an additional threat to
your health, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and atrial
fibrillation. It’s advisable that you get yourself examined by a healthcare
specialist. Remember, frequent premature beats aren’t the only sign of heart
trouble, some other symptoms include.
1. You get
easily fatigued doing any physical activity
2. You have a
sudden persistent cough
3. You have
high blood pressure
4. You have
trouble breathing in your sleep
5. Sudden hair
loss on your legs
6. Your feet
and legs are swollen
7. You have
neck or jaw pain
8. Shortness
of breath
9. Your gums
are swollen
Other
reasons that can cause your heart to skip a beat:
1. Dehydration
2. Mineral
deficiency (low levels of essential minerals, such as potassium and magnesium)
3. Your
exercise regimen (consult with an expert before embarking on an exercise
regimen, especially if you’ve an underlying hear condition or heart disease)
4. Fluctuating
hormones (due to pregnancy, thyroid issues, menopause)
5. Too much
alcohol
Sign
up for a CPR course at the AHA certified CPR Tampa in Palm Harbor by calling on 727-240-9404, and equip yourself in the
lifesaving CPR procedure.
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