We’ve all heard people talk about a racing heart, or having their heart skip a beat, but what does that actually mean?
Typically, those sensations refer to heart palpitations, a term used to describe the awareness of your own heartbeat. This can include any abnormal heart rhythm such as hard, rapid or irregular beats.
“Heart palpitations are like a flip flop of your heartbeat,” says Beaumont cardiologist Ilana Kutinsky, D.O. “It a general term and doesn’t necessarily suggest a specific issue - nearly everyone has palpitations at some time.”
Dr. Kutinsky says if the palpitations start causing you to be uncomfortable, you should see your primary care physician or a cardiologist. If you experience chest pain, loss of consciousness or shortness of breath, you should seek treatment quickly.
If the palpitations are caused by an underlying heart issue such as atrial fibrillation, treatment options can include medication or ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that scars or destroys tissue in your heart that's allowing incorrect electrical signals to cause an abnormal heart rhythm.
“Usually, the palpitations are not dangerous and are just simply the twitch of the heart muscle,” says Dr. Kutinsky.
If the palpitations are not caused by a heart condition, you can manage the frequency with lifestyle modifications like avoiding stimulants such as coffee and energy drinks, and managing your stress and anxiety.
“Energy drinks and coffee are bad players in this realm,” says Kutinsky. “This is always our first recommendation to patients.”