Heart

The heart is a muscle. It has four chambers: two upper ones, called the atria, and two lower ones, called the ventricles. Blood flows in and out of the heart through these chambers. The Heart As A Pump The heart pumps blood to the lungs to absorb the oxygen we inhale. It then pumps this oxygen-rich blood […]

Palpitations usually occur when something disrupts the normal electrical activity or function of the heart. They may be felt when the heart is beating quickly, slowly, or irregularly (an arrhythmia) or when the heart is contracting more forcefully than usual. Sometimes, palpitations occur for unknown reasons in people with no evidence of heart disease or arrhythmias.

Palpitations can be very frightening. But most palpitations do not indicate underlying heart disease. If you are having palpitations, there is a good chance that nothing is seriously wrong. See What are palpitations. So when are palpitations serious? Palpitations could be a reason for concern if they are caused by an underlying heart disorder (such as heart valve

Palpitations may occur with changes in the: Heart rate, which is the speed at which the heart beats Heart rhythm, which is the pattern of the heart beats Force of ventricular contraction, which reflects how vigorously the heart is pumping Arrhythmia is the term used to describe irregularities or abnormal patterns of the heart’s pumping cycle.

When you tell your doctor about the palpitations, you will likely be asked a number of questions, such as: How often the palpitations occur How long they last What circumstances bring on the palpitations Whether other symptoms occur with the palpitations. The doctor will then perform a physical examination to look for signs of conditions

In most people, palpitations do not indicate underlying heart disease, and treatment other than reassurance or lifestyle changes is not needed. In some cases, your doctor may discover that your palpitations are due to an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) that warrants medical treatment. Several types of treatments are available for palpitations caused by problems with heart rate or

If you experience palpitations, remember that most are not life threatening and are not caused by a serious problem. If your doctor has determined that they are not due to a serious cause, here’s what you can do when they happen. Lie down and try to remain calm. Panic can aggravate the problem. Splash cold

Here are some frequently asked questions related to palpitations. Q: My doctor says I need to take medicine for my palpitations, but I’ve heard that they can have side effects. Should I be concerned? A: Almost all medications have some side effects and that includes antiarrhythmic drugs. Fortunately, most of the side effects of antiarrhythmic drugs

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to palpitations. Palpitations are a sensation that the heart is beating rapidly, slowly, forcefully, or irregularly. The majority of palpitations are not of major significance and are not a sign of underlying heart disease. They are more common as you get older. If your

The American Heart Association recommends a step-wise approach to lowering cholesterol levels. The Step I Diet If you have high blood cholesterol and have not tried other dietary approaches, the Step I diet is the place to start: Total fat intake should be no more than 30% of calories. Saturated fat (the kind that is

If your blood cholesterol level is higher than it should be, your doctor will probably advise you to try to bring it down with diet and exercise first. For many people, diet and exercise changes can cause their cholesterol level to begin dropping after two to three weeks and to fall 30 to 55 points

Q: Does caffeine raise blood cholesterol levels? A: Caffeine is found in many soft drinks, coffee, tea, and to a lesser extent, chocolate. Caffeine does not raise blood cholesterol levels, and research has yielded conflicting results on whether caffeine increases risk of heart disease. Based on current evidence, a moderate intake of caffeine does not seem