Heart

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on palpitations. Mitral valve prolapse, a deformity of one of the heart’s four valves, is another heart-related cause of palpitations. If your palpitations are due to mitral valve prolapse (MVP), you may want to visit the MVPS Research and Support Web site at http://www.mvpsupport.com, for more […]

Palpitations are the awareness that your heart is beating forcefully, rapidly, or irregularly. There often is a feeling of “skipping beats” or “fluttering in the chest.” They can occur in normal healthy people, as well as in people with heart problems. Palpitations can be very frightening. But most palpitations do not indicate underlying heart disease. If you

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

Being overweight raises total blood cholesterol levels. In addition, it throws your cholesterol levels out of balance, raising levels of LDL cholesterol (the harmful kind of cholesterol that clogs blood vessels) and lowering levels of HDL cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol that helps clear blood vessels). Besides its effects on blood cholesterol levels, being

Making gradual and permanent changes in your diet and lifestyle can help you lower your cholesterol levels. Not only will these changes reduce your risk for developing heart disease, but they will also reduce your risk for other serious conditions such as high blood pressure, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. The main lifestyle changes to help

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