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Possible Causes That Could Make Your Heart Skip A Beat

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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