What affects the heartbeat. Causes and treatment of rapid heartbeat. An attack of rapid heartbeat with low blood pressure

A rapid heartbeat is considered to be a pulse greater than 90 beats per minute. This figure can reach 200. In medical terminology, this is called tachycardia. To determine what to take for palpitations, the cause of the arrhythmia should be determined. Most often, this problem occurs in older people.

There can be many factors causing pathology. It is divided into two types. Tachycardia is a sign of some diseases, and physiological tachycardia appears for natural reasons - due to excessive stress or strong emotions. If the heartbeat is irregular, this is a manifestation of atrial fibrillation, which is very dangerous to health and can lead to cardiac arrest.

Types of tachycardiaPeculiarities
SinusOccurs due to a heavy load on the heart or against the background of its diseases. Usually the disease goes away on its own, and the symptoms are mild. There is no need to treat temporary tachycardia.
ParoxysmalIt appears suddenly and stops unexpectedly. These attacks occur due to damage to the heart or when it develops abnormally. During therapy, medications are prescribed - beta blockers, glycosides and maintenance drugs.
ChronicWhy does such a rapid heartbeat occur? It occurs against the background of congenital anomalies and diseases. Here, in addition to treatment, the patient must strictly follow a daily routine, proper nutrition, and get enough sleep. He needs to do gymnastics every day, but only moderately, without much physical activity.

What should you take?

If such a problem occurs, the person often does not have enough air. A pounding heart causes panic and fear.

Important! Tachycardia can occur due to excessive physical exertion, consumption of drinks containing caffeine, excess weight, and other factors.

When tachycardia appears, a person should loosen constricting clothing, open air access to the room, put validol under the tongue and call a doctor. You can give the patient 40 drops of motherwort or valerian for a calming effect. Their price is low, they are in every home medicine cabinet.

If tachycardia appears due to physical factors, then medications for palpitations will not be required. The pulsation will return to normal on its own in a few minutes.

You should not take any medications without consulting a doctor. All medications have their contraindications. For example, calcium and potassium channel blockers are not prescribed in the presence of arterial hypotension, bradycardia and a number of other diseases. Not all drugs are indicated during pregnancy and lactation.

Tachycardia during pregnancy: features

Rapid heartbeat during pregnancy occurs due to the heavy load that occurs as a result of the appearance of additional blood circulation and the increased need for increased amounts of oxygen. Tachycardia does not affect a woman’s health, but can have a negative impact on the fetus.

If a rapid heartbeat suddenly occurs, you need to calm down and temporarily avoid any, even minor, physical activity. If tachycardia is accompanied by additional negative symptoms such as dizziness, difficulty breathing, and others, you need to allow air into the room, lie down, and take a sedative. If the conditions are met, but the condition does not improve, you must call an ambulance.

In the absence of heart disease, sedative herbal medicines are prescribed. At the same time, products containing vitamin-mineral complexes, magnesium, and potassium can be prescribed. You should not take any medications during pregnancy without a doctor's prescription.

What should pregnant women drink if they have heart palpitations? Preference is given to herbal medicines in the form of valerian and motherwort. You can add them to the mixture with yarrow and anise fruits. Tincture with lemon balm also helps. Take 100 g of chopped grass and pour in 250 ml of boiling water.

You need to take the drink 4 times a day, 1 tsp diluted with 100 ml. water. An infusion with coriander or calendula with valerian helps well with tachycardia. You can brew herbal tea from oregano, rose hips, and lemon balm. It is best to add additional motherwort to the herbs.

Rapid heartbeat in children

In children under one year of age, blood pressure is slightly increased and the normal level is 130-160 beats per minute. Up to 2 years of age, a rapid pulse is considered normal at values ​​from 120 to 150 beats/min. At the age of 15, the child’s pulse should be between 70 and 80 beats/min. A rapid heartbeat in children is a normal reaction of a rapidly growing body. The vessels are still small, but the need for blood supply is high, so the heart rate increases. However, it may have other reasons:

  • stress;
  • disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system;
  • improper development of the cardiovascular system;
  • excessive exercise at home;
  • side effects of medications;
  • complications after illness.

What methods can you use to reduce heart palpitations?

Tachycardia does not always require treatment. If the pathology is caused by physiological reasons or nervous disorders, it is enough to try to calm down, take pills for rapid heartbeat (for example, Bisoprolol, Verapamil).

The list of medications is not limited to these drugs. In emergency cases, you need to drink a glass of water, motherwort or valerian. People suffering from attacks of tachycardia need to give up strong tea and coffee, bad habits (alcohol and smoking). You need to reduce mental and physical stress and take a walk in the fresh air every day.

It is important to monitor your own weight, prevent obesity and get enough sleep. Food should be prepared with reduced salt content. The diet should be rich in minerals and vitamins. Herbal teas made from lemon balm, calendula and rose hips help reduce heart palpitations. They need to additionally add a few drops of valerian or motherwort (at one time).

What to do in case of a sudden attack? The most popular medications for high heart rate are valocordin or corvalol. In case of emergency:

  1. In the room you need to open the vents or windows to provide access to fresh air.
  2. Free the patient from the suffocating attributes of clothing (tight tie or shirt collar).
  3. The person must be laid or seated on a low couch.
  4. Place a towel soaked in cold water on your face.
  5. Place an Anapril tablet under the patient’s tongue or give one Egilok, Coronal or Concor to drink. However, they can only be given if the patient has previously successfully taken these medications. They are contraindicated in case of low blood pressure. The names of the drugs may be different.

Treatment of tachycardia

All medications for palpitations should be prescribed only by a cardiologist, after conducting an ECG and establishing the causes of tachycardia. When prescribing treatment, age, concomitant diseases and other factors are taken into account. With rapid heartbeat
medications are prescribed that are divided into two groups:

  1. Sedatives are needed to reduce the increased heart rate. The drugs can be taken without a doctor's prescription. Usually prescribed tablets and tinctures for palpitations are Diazepam, Novo-Passit and valerian.
  2. Antiarrhythmic drugs normalize cardiac activity and also help reduce heart rate. Such drugs can only be taken with a doctor's prescription. The most commonly prescribed drugs are Verapamil, Flecainide, and Adenosine.

Other medications for heart palpitations:

  • cardiac glycosides;
  • antioxidants form the basis of treatment;
  • sedatives are classified as sedatives and consist mainly of medicinal plants;
  • Beta blockers reduce elevated levels of hormones that contribute to stress.

However, you cannot take any medications for palpitations (including traditional prescriptions) on your own, without a doctor’s prescription, since they all have their own side effects and contraindications. Even seemingly medicinal herbs can cause individual intolerance to the body.

Normally, in an adult, the heart beats 70-90 times per minute. A faster heartbeat is called. This condition can be both physiological and pathological in nature - many diseases (and not only heart diseases) are accompanied by rapid heartbeat.

Causes of rapid heartbeat

The heart is the main organ of the cardiovascular system. It, like a pump, pumps blood through the vessels, ensuring the supply of oxygen, energy and building material, hormones and other biologically active compounds to the tissues.

If a person is healthy and calm, his heart beats 70-90 times per minute and covers the needs of every cell of the body. If a pathological process develops in the body, the heart immediately reacts by increasing or decreasing contractions. In this regard, when examining patients, doctors always determine the pulse rate (it corresponds to the heart rate) - this is the easiest way to assess the functionality of the heart.

However, as mentioned above, the cause of tachycardia is not always a pathological process; quite often in adults there is so-called physiological tachycardia. The main reasons for the physiological increase in heart rate include:

  • Emotional stress and. Stressful situations are always accompanied by increased synthesis of biologically active compounds. These substances make the heart beat faster. As soon as the hormonal levels return to normal, the heartbeat returns to normal.
  • Physical exercise. Working muscles need more oxygen and energy, so the body signals the heart to beat faster and it beats.
  • Binge eating. A full stomach puts pressure on the heart and lungs, which is why tachycardia occurs.
  • Pregnancy. Many expectant mothers in the first months of expecting a baby suffer from low blood pressure, which can cause heart palpitations.
  • . , tachycardia, are the most common companions of the menopause.
  • Environmental influence. The heart begins to beat faster in conditions of high temperature and lack of oxygen, for example, in a stuffy room or in transport.
  • Drinking caffeinated drinks. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant, including cardiac activity. Several cups of strong alcohol, drunk in a row, can make the heart beat 100 or more times per minute.
  • Increased body temperature. Each extra degree of body temperature is approximately 10 heartbeats. Accordingly, in a person with a severe fever (more than 39 degrees), the heartbeat can reach 120 per minute or higher.

Diseases that cause the heart to beat faster

Now let's look at the causes of pathological tachycardia. They are usually divided into two groups:

  • Extracardiac– not related to the heart.
  • Intracardiac– all kinds of cardiac pathologies.

The following reasons are considered extracardiac:

Intracardiac causes of palpitations are not so numerous, but in most cases it is much more difficult to influence them. Cardiac causes of tachycardia include:

  • Cardiomyopathy.
  • Extreme degree of ischemia of the heart muscle -.

Why is a rapid heartbeat dangerous?

If the heartbeat rarely increases and then under the influence of various physiological factors, there is no need to worry - there will be no disruptions in the functioning of the body. If tachycardia occurs frequently and continues for a long time, sooner or later problems will definitely begin.

If the heart contracts too frequently, the heart is not completely filled with blood; therefore, less of it enters the bloodstream per cardiac output. That is, cardiac activity gradually becomes inferior - the heart cannot perform its function of providing the body with oxygen and nutrients, and all tissues begin to suffer from this.

The brain and heart muscle are the first to feel the lack of oxygen.(it is supplied with blood through the arteries branching from the aorta). Moreover, the more pronounced the tachycardia, the harder it is for the myocardium: it has to work more actively, and therefore more oxygen is needed, but there is none. Therefore, in such conditions of blood supply the risk of acute myocardial ischemia increases significantly –.

What to do if your heart beats fast

First of all, you need to sit down, calm down, drink water. If after 10-15 minutes the heartbeat does not return to normal, you should consult a therapist or cardiologist. If palpitations are accompanied by a feeling of “lack of air” and severe weakness, it is better to immediately call an ambulance.

Before doctors arrive, you must do the following:

People suffering from tachycardia should always have with them the medications prescribed by their doctor to relieve attacks.

Examination for tachycardia

To determine the cause of palpitations, the patient needs to contact a cardiologist and undergo a comprehensive examination:

  • Do , and .
  • Donate blood for and for thyroid hormones.
  • Visit a neurologist and endocrinologist.

In controversial cases (when the patient has complaints, and all tests and studies are relatively normal), it may be necessary to conduct a daily ECG recording. This diagnostic method allows you to detect attacks of tachycardia, which are not always detected during a visit to a medical facility.

Principles of treating palpitations

Physiological tachycardia usually goes away on its own. But the tactics for treating pathological rapid heartbeat are determined by the cause of this condition. In some situations (for example, when a patient is diagnosed with a serious cardiac pathology), it is possible to significantly improve the patient’s well-being only through surgery—mainly minimally invasive operations are used.

To stop attacks of rapid heartbeat, doctors prescribe antiarrhythmic drugs to patients. They come in three classes:

  • TO first include Novocainamide, Lidocaine, Propafenone and other drugs that block sodium and activate potassium channels in the myocardium.

Our body is very sensitive to various changes occurring within it. Very often, he subtly reacts to the development of any disease, letting us know that not everything is all right with him, and it’s time to see a doctor. One of the clearest signs of problems in the body is a rapid heartbeat or tachycardia. What are the causes of increased heart rate and how to deal with this syndrome?

What heart rate is considered normal?

The human heart beats rhythmically throughout his life, pumping liters of blood every day. Typically, the heart rate, depending on certain factors, ranges from 50 to 150 beats per minute.


The generally accepted norm is that the heart rate of a healthy person at rest should not be higher than 60-80 beats in 60 seconds. However, this indicator may differ for an individual bipedal inhabitant of planet Earth. The pulse rate depends on age, physical and psycho-emotional state, the presence of physical activity and many other factors. For example, in a child, due to the development and growth of the body, as well as an active lifestyle, this indicator is higher than that of the average adult. In this case, the child, even with a rapid pulse, will feel very well in most cases. Below in the table you can see approximate indicators of a person’s heart rate depending on his age.

Age (years) Pulse rate (beats per minute)
0-1 80-160
2-3 80-120
3-7 75-115
7-10 70-110
10-14 65-100
Over 14 50-100

Thanks to the table, it is clearly seen that the older the child is, the lower the upper limit of the pulse rate is - the heart rate becomes calmer. In normal condition and with good functioning of the blood-pumping organ, we do not feel or hear heartbeats. However, during attacks of rapid heartbeat, a person can clearly not only hear, but even feel the speed at which this organ contracts. A condition in which a rapid pulse is noted is called tachycardia.

If an attack of tachycardia passes quickly or does not cause any particular inconvenience, and is not accompanied by a serious deterioration in the general condition of the body, then most likely it is not a sign of anything terrible. But if palpitations are accompanied by dizziness, nausea, increased or decreased blood pressure, or arrhythmia, then a visit to the doctor is required.

Signs of tachycardia

As a rule, palpitations usually appear suddenly and disappear just as suddenly. Sometimes such an attack can last for a very short time, and in other cases the heart will beat too quickly for hours or even days.

His body will help him understand that a person is facing an attack of tachycardia. The main symptoms of this syndrome are as follows:

  • clearly audible heartbeats;
  • labored breathing;
  • panic state;
  • dizziness;
  • darkening of the eyes;
  • chest pain;
  • feeling of heat;
  • feeling of faintness.

The listed symptoms may appear singly or complement each other. However, it is worth remembering that in a child, sudden jumps in heart rate without other symptoms may be the norm, since the child’s body is more changeable, and the heart easily adapts to a new rhythm of work. But if attacks appear accompanied by a general deterioration of the condition or far exceed the normal indicators presented in the table above, then you should consult a doctor.

Causes of rapid heart rate

Palpitations occur more often in the fairer sex than in men. It manifests itself especially clearly in overly emotional ladies, impulsive and temperamental natures. In addition, an increased heart rate is often a companion for those people who are prone to self-deprecation, frequent and groundless worries, and mood swings. Also, people who are in depressive states and are overly demanding of themselves and the world around them are also susceptible to attacks of tachycardia.

What are the main causes of increased heart rate? It can be:

  • use of antidepressants and other medications;
  • severe stress, positive or negative;
  • consumption of alcohol, nicotine, drugs;
  • excess weight;
  • disturbing dreams or insomnia;
  • drinking strong tea or caffeinated drinks (coffee, energy drinks);
  • overwork;
  • use of certain pharmaceuticals;
  • physical exercise;
  • pregnancy;
  • age.

It is worth noting that in the last stages of pregnancy, an increase in heart rate is considered normal. Various diseases can also cause an increase in heart rate:

  • influenza or ARVI;
  • diseases of the hematopoietic system;
  • pathologies of the thyroid gland;
  • psychological diseases;
  • tumors of various etiologies.

Elevated body temperature is often the cause of rapid heartbeat. Doctors note that for every extra degree, the pulse rate increases by an average of 10 units.

People who engage in heavy mental work and work in serious leadership positions often suffer from increased heart rates. The responsibility that lies on their shoulders is often a source of considerable stress and anxiety and, consequently, an increase in the level of heartbeat. Tachycardia can also be caused by the death of a loved one, problems in the family or at work, and much more.


Among the heart diseases that cause tachycardia (and it is one of the signs of their development), the following can be distinguished:

  • heart disease;
  • ischemia;
  • myocarditis;
  • arterial hypertension;
  • cardiomyopathy;
  • myocardial dystrophy;
  • pathological structure of the heart and others.

Also, an increase in heart rate can occur in women during menopause, with bleeding, the development of purulent infections or anemia. Tachycardia is often a companion for people who avoid sports, lead a sedentary lifestyle, do not allow themselves to rest, and those who do not like walking in the fresh air.

Scientists say that consuming chocolate in large quantities has a negative impact not only on the figure - the heart of a sweet lover is also seriously tested. Tachycardia is a frequent companion of chocolate fans.

In fact, there are many reasons why the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle may increase. But it is important to learn to distinguish the so-called pathological tachycardia from the normal reaction of the body to certain loads on it. To do this, you should regularly monitor your heart rate in various states: for example, at rest and after exercise, during stress and immediately after sleep, and so on.


Remember that an increase in heart rate in itself is not a disease as such, but this indicator may be one of the signs of the development of a serious pathology. That is why, if attacks are repeated quite often and occur for no apparent reason, you should definitely visit a doctor.

Video - Rapid heartbeat. How to calm your heart

Diagnostics

If attacks of rapid heartbeat worried you or were accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, then most likely you have already made an appointment with a cardiologist. What should you be prepared for, what can your doctor prescribe?

Since a rapid pulse is a sign of the possible development of certain diseases, the specialist will definitely prescribe a set of examinations that you will need to undergo. To begin with, the cardiologist will conduct a general examination of the patient, measure blood pressure, pulse rate, and interview the patient. Based on the information collected, he will prescribe a specific list of studies. Tests ordered may include:

  • Ultrasound of the heart;
  • blood test (both general and hormone levels);
  • electrocardiogram.

As a rule, a patient with a rapid pulse is also referred to an endocrinologist, since diseases of the thyroid gland and other organs of the endocrine system often cause a change in the frequency of the heartbeat. After conducting all the necessary examinations, the doctor will identify the cause of the rapid pulse and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Treatment

Treatment for palpitations involves eliminating the cause. That is, for example, if this syndrome arose due to developed diseases of the endocrine system, then, after its condition returns to normal, the pulse rate will also decrease. If the reason for the rapid heartbeat is that a person has an increase in temperature, then after it decreases, the pulse rate will return to normal.

For people who are depressed or have other psychological problems and disorders, a specialist may prescribe various sedatives or antidepressants. It is also recommended that such patients make an appointment with a psychotherapist. Therapy sessions will help restore a harmonious state of mind, calm you down, set you in a positive mood, and a rapid pulse will no longer accompany a person.


Aromatherapy sessions, spa treatments or meditation are very calming. It’s good if, during an attack of rapid heartbeat, you can take 15-20 minutes in the middle of the working day and retire somewhere in a quiet and peaceful place with a cup of green tea. Mild black tea with mint or milk also calms and normalizes the pulse.

Medicines such as Corvalol and Valocordin will also help return the pulse to normal. Take the drug according to the instructions and try to lie down. The heart rate returns to normal within a few minutes.

If a tachycardia attack unexpectedly catches you while jogging in the park, then you should sit down on a bench and rest a little. You should not torture yourself and try to overcome the intended distance if you feel that it is very difficult for your body at the moment.

Those who suffer from frequent attacks of rapid heartbeat are recommended to attend several sessions of acupressure neck massage. However, remember that it is worth finding a good specialist in this field. Incorrect massage technique can only aggravate the condition.

Video - Treatment of tachycardia at home

Prevention

How to avoid tachycardia? In old age, most likely, it will not be possible to completely escape from it, but young people can reduce the risk of this condition. The main preventive measures are as follows:

  1. Proper nutrition. Eat “healthy” foods, avoid eating salty, spicy, fatty and sweet foods too often. Make sure your menu contains all the vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances your body needs.
  2. Control the amount of caffeine. One cup of coffee in the morning is enough to wake you up. You should not drink this drink, as well as others containing caffeine, throughout the working day. Do not overuse strong black tea.
  3. Stop smoking and alcohol. Nicotine and alcohol will not bring any good; their use negatively affects not only the heart, but also the entire body. And the less you use them, the higher the chance of maintaining health until old age.

  4. Healthy lifestyle. Periodically take evening walks in the park and play sports. The gym, swimming pool, fitness and other types of active recreation will add energy to you, make your body stronger and more resilient. Experts also recommend attending yoga classes - they normalize breathing and strengthen the body.
  5. Avoid stress. Don't worry too much about failures at work or in your personal life. After a dark streak in life, a white one always comes, which means that the best is yet to come. It is also best to simply avoid those stressful situations that you can control as much as possible.
  6. Don't forget to rest. Overfatigue is one of the main reasons for the rapid wear and tear of all body systems. Don’t overload yourself with work; be sure to take at least one day off a week.

A rapid heartbeat in itself is rarely dangerous, but it sometimes signals us about problems in our body. If you are experiencing tachycardia for the first time, you should monitor your condition for a while and periodically check your pulse rate. If you visited a doctor and were prescribed a certain course of treatment, then you should definitely undergo it. But you should not self-medicate if attacks of tachycardia cause you serious inconvenience.

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Symptoms characteristic of pathology

Patients typically describe palpitations with the following phrases: the heart beats very hard and loudly, beats against the chest and literally jumps out of the chest. Increased heartbeat is often accompanied by a sensation of pulsation in the neck, pit of the stomach, temples and fingertips. In addition, frequent heartbeats may be accompanied by painful sensations in the chest, unpleasant noise in the ears, a feeling of lack of air, difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest. Such symptoms sometimes indicate a serious disruption of the heart and even the development of pathology. However, most often in patients with rapid heartbeat, no special health problems are identified.

It is important to understand that palpitations are not the same as tachycardia. Tachycardia is an objective increase in the number of heartbeats that persists in a person under any conditions and does not depend on external factors. A healthy adult's resting heart rate should be between 60 and 80 beats per minute. If the patient has more than 90 beats per minute, then in this case he is diagnosed with tachycardia. However, it should be noted that with tachycardia, the patient himself usually does not notice the rapid beating of the heart, which distinguishes it from rapid heartbeat.

Causes of rapid heartbeat

Even a person who does not have any health problems may experience heart palpitations from time to time. The most common cause of heart palpitations is stress. Therefore, this condition is more characteristic of people who are characterized by increased nervousness and sensitivity. In addition, the following factors can cause rapid heartbeat:

  1. Large or intense physical activity, such as quickly climbing stairs.
  2. Physical effort performed in hot or extremely stuffy conditions. Oxygen starvation causes increased heart function.
  3. A sharp mental experience, such as fear or excitement.
  4. Drinking too much coffee, cola or tea, or other products that contain caffeine.
  5. Taking certain medications. For example, this effect is often caused by medications for the common cold.
  6. Disruption of the digestive system. For example, flatulence, which causes the diaphragm to rise, which can cause it to put pressure on internal organs, including the heart.
  7. Anxious sleep, nightmare or, on the contrary, frequent insomnia.
  8. Drinking alcoholic beverages, which increase blood pressure and increase heart rate.
  9. Use of antidepressants or any other psychotropic medications.
  10. High blood pressure, which may be a manifestation of hypertension or be temporary.
  11. Old age, when the functioning of the cardiovascular system often malfunctions.
  12. Consuming excessive amounts of chocolate, which contains significant amounts of caffeine.
  13. Increase in general body temperature. Fever often causes heart palpitations because it has a negative effect on the functioning of the heart.

When does heart palpitations threaten your health?

In some cases, cardiac arrhythmia and rapid heartbeat are signs of a serious illness. You should not delay visiting your doctor if you have symptoms such as:

  • too strong and intense heartbeat;
  • rapid heartbeat, which persists for a long time and is severe;
  • rapid heartbeat even with little physical activity or the slightest nervous experience, as well as after just one cup of coffee or tea;
  • causeless rapid heartbeat, which occurs without the influence of any external factors;
  • the heart beats unevenly, which may indicate arrhythmia, that is, a violation of the heart rhythm.

Diseases that cause heart palpitations

The above symptoms may indicate the development of serious diseases in the human body that require immediate treatment, namely:

  1. Avitaminosis. A lack of vitamin C has a particularly bad effect on heart function.
  2. Anemia. Reduced hemoglobin content in the patient’s blood and lack of iron.
  3. Tetany. A serious condition caused by a lack of calcium in the body.
  4. Various diseases of the endocrine system.
  5. Heart pathologies of varying severity.
  6. Acute heart failure.
  7. Intoxication of the body.
  8. Various infectious diseases.
  9. Tachycardia.
  10. Myocardium.

But here it is necessary to emphasize that with myocarditis and other heart diseases, as well as disorders of the thyroid gland, rapid heartbeat is only one of the symptoms of these ailments. The first thing a patient suffering from the diseases described above complains about is severe chest pain and severe shortness of breath.

Palpitations require immediate medical attention only if they are accompanied by severe dizziness, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, pale skin and sweating. If these signs appear, you must immediately call an ambulance, as this condition can be dangerous to the health and life of the patient. The causes of arrhythmia in this case can be very serious.

If the patient’s body is deficient in elements important for life, such as magnesium or calcium, then this may be the cause of strong heartbeat and cardiac arrhythmia. Signs of such paroxysmal tachycardia are severe shortness of breath, severe weakness throughout the body, darkening of the eyes, chest pain and loss of consciousness.

The causes of arrhythmia may also lie in such a serious disease as leukemia, which causes a severe stage of blood disease.

To detect this disease in time, you should do a general blood test, which will help determine the number of red blood cells.

Thus, the causes of rapid heartbeat can be very serious and therefore should not be treated negligently. If cardiac arrhythmia bothers a patient in a calm state, this is a clear signal that there is some kind of disorder in his body. Therefore, there is no need to postpone a visit to the cardiologist, since in this case we are talking about health, and maybe even life. The doctor carefully examines the patient and, based on the results obtained, makes the correct diagnosis.


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Causes of palpitations

Among all the conditions that can cause an increased heart rate, one can distinguish physiological ones, that is, those that act temporarily with the independent restoration of normal heart rate, and pathological ones, that is, those that are based on various disturbances in the activity of the heart or other organs.

Physiological reasons

  1. Physical activity - running, long brisk walking, swimming, sports,
  2. Psycho-emotional stress - acute and chronic stress, panic attack, severe fear, mental stress,
  3. Strong emotions - anger, joy, rage, etc.
  4. Pregnancy – due to a general increase in blood volume in the pregnant woman’s body, as well as due to the increased load on her heart, an increase in heart rate occurs, which does not require treatment if no other pathological causes are identified, and the woman tolerates the rapid rhythm satisfactorily.

Pathological conditions

1) Cardiological

a) Functional dysregulation of the cardiovascular system:

  • Vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD, neurocirculatory dystonia) is a violation of the regulation of vascular tone, resulting in a reflex increase in heart rate,
  • Dysfunction of the sinus node (pacemaker), which manifests itself as sinus tachycardia,
  • Sharp changes in blood pressure levels (within the framework of VSD, that is, due to the functional characteristics of the body), as a result of which the heart reflexively responds with an accelerated rhythm in response to low pressure.

b) Organic damage to the myocardium:

  • Myocardial infarction, acute or suffered some time ago,
  • Heart defects, congenital or acquired,
  • Arterial hypertension, especially long-term, or with high blood pressure numbers,
  • Cardiosclerosis, that is, the formation of scar tissue in place of normal heart muscle, for example, after inflammation of the myocardium (myocarditis) or acute myocardial infarction,
  • Cardiomyopathies are diseases accompanied by changes in the structure of the heart muscle - hypertrophy (increase in myocardial mass) or dilatation (thinning of the heart muscle and expansion of the cardiac cavities).

In such diseases, palpitations can manifest as tachycardia, when the heart contracts frequently but correctly, as well as atrial fibrillation or other types of tachyarrhythmias, when the rhythm is frequent and irregular, that is, the heart contracts irregularly.

2) Non-cardiological

Diseases of other organs and systems:

  1. Diseases of the thyroid gland, in particular, autoimmune damage or goiter, accompanied by increased levels of hormones in the blood - hyperthyroidism,
  2. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - gastritis, gastric ulcer, diaphragmatic hernia, etc.
  3. Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system - chronic obstructive bronchitis, bronchial asthma, especially if the patient uses inhalers, the active substance of which increases the heart rate (Berodual, salbutamol, Berotec, etc.),
  4. Fever,
  5. Acute infectious and purulent diseases,
  6. Anemia,
  7. Alcohol, nicotine, narcotic and other types of intoxication,
  8. Acute poisoning,
  9. Eating disorders with dystrophy,
  10. Brain tumors, mediastinum, terminal stage of oncological processes in the body,
  11. Many types of shock (burn, traumatic, hemorrhagic, etc.).

Symptoms and manifestations of rapid heartbeat

Clinically, the sensation of heartbeat can vary greatly from patient to patient depending on the causative factor, as well as on psycho-emotional characteristics and the general sensitivity of the body. In some cases, the rapid rhythm is felt by the patient as a slight unpleasant feeling of discomfort in the chest, in others - as strong heartbeats with various “inversions, freezing, stopping,” etc. With a very rapid pulse (more than 100-120 per minute), patients can describe their feelings in this way - “the heart is trembling, shaking like a hare’s tail.” Sometimes patients do not feel the accelerated heart rate at all.

As a rule, palpitations manifest themselves in paroxysms, and disappear as the triggering factors are eliminated in the case of their physiological nature within a few minutes, but sometimes such an attack can drag on for hours, days and even weeks.

In the case when the patient does not have diseases of the heart or other organs, and a rapid pulse is caused by transient factors, then after eliminating the cause (rest, cessation of physical activity, elimination of a stressful situation), heart rate indicators return to normal. normal (60-90 per minute). If you have a certain disease, you may need to use medications or treat the disease to eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

What other symptoms can palpitations be associated with?

In persons with vegetative-vascular dystonia An increased heart rate can be combined with pronounced psycho-emotional manifestations, such as tearfulness, irritability, aggressiveness, as well as with autonomic reactions - sweating, pallor, trembling limbs, headache, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure. In severe cases, in such patients, an accelerated heart rate accompanies a panic attack.

If you have high thyroid hormone levels(hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis) the patient notes attacks of strong heartbeat, combined with sweating, internal trembling throughout the body, weight loss with increased appetite, a visually apparent enlargement of the palpebral fissures and “bulging” eyeballs.

If we talk about the relationship between trigger mechanisms in various diseases, then anything can provoke tachycardia - physical activity or stress in case of heart failure, taking a horizontal position after eating (especially at night) in case of stomach diseases, overdose of inhaled drugs in case of bronchial asthma, etc.

Dangerous symptoms that you need to pay attention to!

Tachycardia may be a symptom of some life-threatening conditions, for example, if interruptions in the heart and a feeling of strong palpitations are combined with severe pain in the left half of the chest, between the shoulder blades or behind the sternum, and are also accompanied by a sudden sharp deterioration in the condition with cold sweat, shortness of breath, one may suspect patient has acute myocardial infarction.

When a rapid heartbeat is combined with shortness of breath, a feeling of shortness of breath, a suffocating cough with or without pink frothy sputum, you can think about the onset of acute left ventricular heart failure. Such symptoms can manifest themselves especially sharply at night, when venous stagnation of blood in the lungs increases, and cardiac asthma and pulmonary edema can develop.

In the case when a rapid pulse is accompanied by a feeling of irregular heartbeat, one can think about dangerous rhythm disturbances, such as atrial fibrillation, frequent extrasystole, Tachy-Brady syndrome with sick sinus syndrome, which can lead to loss of consciousness and even cardiac arrest.

Ventricular tachycardia and frequent ventricular extrasystole are considered especially dangerous, which are manifested by a very rapid heart rate and are accompanied by sweating, darkening of the eyes, severe shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air. The danger of such conditions is that they can lead to ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest (asystole).

Thus, if you have such pronounced symptoms and a deterioration in general health during attacks of rapid heartbeat, you should immediately consult a doctor (at a clinic or emergency medical service), because sometimes only by ECG results can you determine the cause and degree of danger of the conditions that appear increased heart rate.

Diagnosis of heart palpitations

As can be seen from the part of the article that describes the causes of rapid heartbeat, There are quite a lot of trigger mechanisms and causative diseases. Therefore, if the patient cannot independently determine the condition as a result of which the heartbeat increases, and, moreover, if such symptoms are difficult to tolerate by the patient, he should consult a doctor promptly, to create a plan for examination and treatment if necessary.

Consultations with specialists, in addition to a therapist, may require examinations by an endocrinologist, gynecologist, infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist and other doctors.

The most informative studies may include the following:

  1. Complete blood count - to check for a decrease in hemoglobin levels or the presence of an inflammatory process,
  2. General urine test to exclude chronic kidney inflammation, as well as kidney damage due to hypertension, diabetes, etc.
  3. Biochemical blood test - indicators of kidney and liver function are examined,
  4. Blood test for infectious diseases - viral hepatitis, HIV, syphilis,
  5. Blood test for thyroid hormones, adrenal hormones,
  6. Glycemic profile and glucose tolerance test for suspected diabetes mellitus,
  7. Determination of the level of sex hormones in pregnant women, especially if there were serious endocrinological diseases before pregnancy,
  8. ECG, in combination with Holter monitoring of ECG and blood pressure per day, as well as conducting an ECG after dosed physical activity in the office of functional research methods,
  9. Echocardioscopy (ultrasound of the heart) for diagnosing defects, impaired contractile function of the myocardium and many other heart diseases,
  10. In case of serious rhythm disturbances, the suspected cause of which is coronary heart disease, the patient may undergo coronary angiography - an “inspection from the inside” of the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle,
  11. Ultrasound of the thyroid gland, internal organs, pelvic organs, if a corresponding pathology is suspected,
  12. Fibrogastroscopy (examination of the gastric mucosa using a gastroscope), analysis of gastric juice if a peptic ulcer is suspected, fluoroscopy of the esophagus and stomach with barium if a diaphragmatic hernia is suspected, etc.
  13. A study of external respiratory functions may be necessary if the patient describes symptoms of attacks of tachycardia and suffocation, reminiscent of attacks of bronchial asthma,
  14. MRI of the brain if the neurologist suspects cardiac dysfunction as a result of a brain accident, such as a stroke, or due to a brain tumor or other diseases.

It is unlikely that one patient will need a complete list of the above studies, since in most cases, attacks of isolated tachycardia without other symptoms appear as a result of physiological causes. If the cause is pathological, then, as a rule, several more symptoms will be observed, so the doctor will be able to orient the patient in which diagnostic direction they should move already at the first examination.

Treatment

The answer to the question of how and for how long to treat attacks of rapid heartbeat can only be answered by a specialist in a face-to-face consultation. In some cases, only rest, proper sleep and proper nutrition are indicated, and in some cases it is impossible to do without an emergency medical team with further observation in a hospital setting.

First aid for an attack of rapid heartbeat

At the stage of first aid, a patient with an attack can be helped as follows:

  • Reassure the patient
  • Open the window, unfasten the collar to let fresh air in,
  • Help the patient lie down or sit down if lying down the patient is choking,
  • Call an ambulance,
  • Measure pulse and blood pressure,
  • Use vagal tests or Valsalva maneuvers - ask the patient to strain and cough so that the pressure in the chest cavity increases and the rhythm slows down a little; you can wet your face with cold water and press firmly on your eyeballs for three to five minutes,
  • Take half or a whole anaprilin tablet under the tongue, or take an Egilok, Concor or Coronal tablet orally, if the patient has previously taken similar medications, but only in accordance with the blood pressure level - with a pressure below 90/60 mmHg, such medications are strictly contraindicated, and the rhythm is slowed down only by health workers using intravenous administration of drugs along with cardiotonic drugs.

Similar recommendations are applicable for patients with a history of cardiac disease, because in the case of another severe pathology, for example, for a patient in a state of severe poisoning or traumatic shock, measures to save life and stabilize the condition will be completely different.

So, this material provides only some of the reasons and approximate diagrams of what you can think about in various combinations of rapid heartbeat with other symptoms. Therefore, it is better for a person who is far from medicine not to engage in self-diagnosis and self-medication, but to seek help from a doctor who will not only diagnose the disease in a timely manner, if it exists, but will also prescribe competent treatment to prevent the disease from progressing.

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Palpitations are not always a painful cardiac arrhythmia

One of the most common reasons that brings patients to a cardiologist is a feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart or a strong heartbeat, which most often appears in the form of a feeling of missed beats, accelerated heartbeat, strong “thumping” beats, fluttering, unexpected heartbeats after minor physical exertion. . The sensory mechanisms responsible for the sensation of heartbeat are currently not fully established. In general terms, this feeling reflects changes in heart rhythm, heart rate, changes in cardiac contractility, etc.

The perception of cardiac activity varies significantly both among healthy people and among patients suffering from cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. While some patients literally feel every extrasystole (more about this in our article “Ventricular extrasystole”), every episode of tachycardia, others even suffer serious and life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances without symptoms of palpitations. It is also not uncommon for a person whose sensations are so strong that they reduce the quality of his life to be declared healthy based on the results of an in-depth examination.

It is currently assumed that the sensations of a strong heartbeat that occur in people who are healthy according to all normal indicators are a manifestation of the characteristics of higher nervous activity.

Most often, palpitations bother people who are in an unstable psycho-emotional state or have anxiety or depressive disorders. The effect of such violations in the case under consideration is twofold:

  • they change the autonomic and hormonal regulation of cardiac activity, disrupting natural rhythm stereotypes (for example, promoting an increase in the frequency of contractions at rest, increasing it inappropriately for physical activity, slowing down the restoration of the heart rate to the proper frequency after the load), provoking some benign rhythm disturbances (supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles ),
  • they change the functioning of the brain centers of perception (perception) of cardiac activity in such a way that the normal parameters of the functioning of the heart cause subjective sensations of inappropriate or incorrect rhythm in their objective absence.

The severity of the sensations experienced by the patient may be such that it interferes with usual work activities, affects the tolerance of physical activity, and significantly worsens the quality of life.

The combination of abundant symptoms and inadequate findings during examination often gives rise to a deep conflict between the doctor (cardiologist or therapist) and the patient. The first accuses the doctor of unwillingness to fulfill his direct duties, and the doctor, in turn, begins to suspect the patient of malingering.

The patient is right, of course. Health implies the ability to adequately adapt to environmental conditions, which for a modern person means adequate performance of duties at work, in the family, and the opportunity to engage in necessary and favorite activities. For many patients, this is impossible, even if the examination does not reveal objective manifestations of the disease that can be treated with available treatment methods.

Symptom of palpitations and psycho-emotional disorders

The absence of organic pathology in the presence of palpitation symptoms directly indicates a violation of regulatory mechanisms. Unfortunately, this topic is still fertile ground for all sorts of speculation, and, in the absence of a studied substrate of the disease, allows the manipulation of exotic explanations and treatment methods.

Currently, the relationship between heartbeats and psycho-emotional disorders has been precisely established. Palpitations can occur in anyone with depression or anxiety and can be both a symptom and a cause of the disorder. It is well known that anxiety can cause palpitations and often the cause of anxiety can be excessive worry about the state of your own heart. People suffering from anxiety may experience episodes of increased adrenaline secretion, which increases the heart rate and causes a feeling of palpitations. This, in turn, can lead to panic attacks. During a panic attack, there are two reasons for changes in heart rate.

  • sympathetic nervous system response
  • hyperventilation due to rapid breathing.

Palpitations in anxiety disorders are usually accompanied by other manifestations that can be easily detected when interviewing the patient. Read more about this in our article “Panic attacks”. A panic attack that occurs with an emphasis on the symptoms of a disorder of the cardiovascular system can imitate a serious heart disease and cause a visit to a cardiologist or a call to an emergency cardiology team.

Depression leads to a combination of these symptoms with general lethargy, disruption of thinking processes, attention, and concentration.

Self-diagnosis of heartbeat

You can determine without outside help whether the feeling of heartbeat is associated with a real existing change in heart rhythm or arrhythmia or whether these are “tricks” of perception by simply counting your own pulse. It should be within normal values ​​(50-90 beats per minute at rest) and be rhythmic (have equal intervals between beats).
Determining your pulse is very simple. You need to proceed as follows: Arrhythmia what to do

Palpitations - a feeling that the heart is beating too quickly or is beating too hard - is a reason to consult a doctor.

is a patient complaint about the subjective sensation of a rapid, arrhythmic or heavy heartbeat. Normally, we do not notice our heartbeat. But any deviation from the norm becomes immediately noticeable. Patients typically describe palpitations as the following: the heart pounding too hard (or “loudly”) in the chest, the heart “jumping” out of the chest, pounding, “jerking,” “spinning,” or “fluttering.” Increased heartbeat may be accompanied by a feeling of pulsation in the neck, temples, pit of the stomach or fingertips. Palpitations may also be accompanied by pain in the heart area, a feeling of tightness in the chest or difficulty breathing. Such symptoms may indicate heart pathology, but in most cases, complaints of increased heartbeat with accompanying symptoms, instrumental studies do not reveal signs of heart damage.

Heartbeat should be distinguished from. Tachycardia– this is an objective increase in heart rate. The normal heart rate for an adult at rest is 60-80 beats per minute. If more than 90 beats per minute are recorded, then tachycardia is diagnosed. However, the patient may not feel that his heartbeat is rapid.

Common causes of heart palpitations

Even a healthy person can feel increased heartbeat. This is most common for people with increased nervous sensitivity. The following can lead to heart palpitations:

  • significant physical effort;
  • rapid rise to altitude;
  • physical activity in a hot and stuffy environment (lack of oxygen leads to increased heart function);
  • sharp mental stress (fear, excitement, etc.);
  • consuming large amounts of foods high in caffeine (coffee, tea, Coca-Cola);
  • certain medications (in particular, cold remedies);
  • digestive disorders (for example, as a result of which the diaphragm appears slightly elevated).

Palpitations may be felt when the temperature is high (patients with a fever often feel palpitations).

Increased heart rate and high blood pressure

Rapid heartbeat is often accompanied. In this case, the more often the heart contracts, the higher the pressure in the arteries. The dependence here is exactly that... Therefore, it is wrong to consider high blood pressure as the cause of increased heart rate. Another thing is that increased blood pressure, accompanied by a general deterioration in well-being, can make you notice how hard your heart is beating.

Rapid heartbeat and increased blood pressure can be caused by the same reasons. In this case, therapeutic measures aimed at normalizing blood pressure will also help normalize the heartbeat.

Increased heart rate and low blood pressure

An increased heart rate is quite possible even with low blood pressure. A sharp decrease in pressure can be observed during shock conditions (traumatic, infectious-toxic, psychogenic and other types of shock). The body responds by speeding up the contraction of the heart muscle to restore blood pressure. A similar compensatory nature of increased heartbeat also occurs with large blood loss.

Rapid heartbeat with normal blood pressure

However, increased heartbeat can be felt regardless of blood pressure. The pressure may be low or normal, but the patient complains of palpitations. This is possible with vegetative-vascular dystonia and a number of other diseases. You should not try to determine what you are sick with, much less begin treatment only on the basis of comparing your heartbeat and blood pressure. In all cases when you are concerned about increased heart rate, you must undergo an examination as prescribed by your doctor.

When is palpitations a reason to see a doctor?

A rapid heartbeat is a reason to see a doctor if it:

  • too intense;
  • is protracted (does not go away for a long time);
  • occurs with less and less exposure to the above factors;
  • occurs independently of the above factors;
  • is uneven in nature (arrhythmia can be assumed - a violation of the heart rhythm).

In these cases, rapid heartbeat may be a manifestation of serious disorders and diseases, such as:

  • anemia (low hemoglobin and iron in the blood);
  • tetany (a condition caused by a lack of calcium);
  • endocrine diseases;
  • heart pathologies.

However, as a rule, in the case of myocarditis, other heart diseases, and hyperthyroidism, palpitations are not the main complaint. With such diseases, first of all, they complain of pain in the heart area and.

It is necessary to react promptly if, against the background of increased heartbeat, pale skin and sweating are observed. In this case, you should call an ambulance.

How can a doctor help with a strong heartbeat?

If you complain about palpitations, you should contact a general practitioner or cardiologist.

When a patient complains of increased heartbeat, it is first necessary to establish its cause - whether it is of physiological or pathological origin. For this purpose, laboratory and instrumental studies may be prescribed, including (), radiography of the heart. After identifying the cause of the increased heart rate, a course of treatment is prescribed aimed at eliminating pathological factors. Normalization of the heartbeat is achieved through treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs. Such drugs should not be taken on your own; they should be prescribed by a doctor in accordance with the condition of your body, established on the basis of a medical examination. Otherwise, the treatment result may be negative.

Rapid heartbeat can occur not only with various diseases, but also manifest itself from other physiological causes that are in no way related to internal disorders. In some life situations, frequent heartbeat occurs in every person, including a child. As a sign of a disease, it is observed in a wide variety of diseases, not just cardiovascular diseases.

If it is not possible to find out the causes of this manifestation on your own, it is necessary to contact specialists from various medical fields to assess other associated symptoms and make a diagnosis. At a normal heart rate, a person does not feel his heart beating, but if for some reason the rhythm becomes faster, it becomes immediately noticeable - the person experiences a strong pulsation in the neck or strong blows to the chest.

The normal heart rate of a healthy adult is up to 80 beats per minute. If the heart beats more than 90 times, this means that the person has heart palpitations. If this symptom is not noticed in time and the process or disease that caused it is not identified, it can cause the development of heart failure and also lead to complete cardiac arrest. An increased heart rate can occur not only in an adult, but also in a child, but do not forget that for children under seven years of age this is a completely normal process.

Etiology

As mentioned above, a large number of factors can cause rapid heartbeat, not always related to serious diseases. Causes of rapid heartbeat in an adult or child who does not have health problems:

  • a rapid heartbeat is often observed after alcohol, especially when taken in large quantities;
  • tendency to show nervousness before an important event in life;
  • the impact of stressful situations at work or at home;
  • performing intense physical activity that is not typical for a person in everyday life;
  • working or being exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, as well as in a poorly ventilated area;
  • drinking large quantities of drinks with high caffeine content;
  • the use of pills, the side effect of which leads to an increase in heart rate;
  • an irrational daily routine when a person sleeps insufficiently or suffers from insomnia;
  • with too high or low blood pressure;
  • age category. Elderly people are most susceptible to rapid heartbeat;
  • Eating a large amount of fatty foods, especially before bed, can cause rapid heartbeat after eating, which, in turn, causes insomnia;
  • hormonal activity, for example, during menstruation or during, and also often occurs with strong sexual arousal;
  • altitude, if a person is forced to work for a long time at height or for another reason finds himself above sea level, for example, during tourism or when playing sports, the pressure decreases and the heart rate increases;
  • increased impressionability from any action, process or event. It occurs very often in a child.

Pathological causes of rapid heartbeat:

  • wide range of infections;
  • heart pathologies, as well as their untimely treatment;
  • lack of vitamin C in the body;
  • decreased blood levels;
  • calcium deficiency;
  • disruption of the endocrine system, in case of removal of one or both parts of the thyroid gland;
  • internal hemorrhages;
  • various shock situations - increased rhythm from bleeding, severe pain, oxygen deficiency, acute. Shock leads to a decrease in blood pressure, which causes this symptom;
  • cancer or other brain lesions;
  • congenital heart pathologies.

Rapid heartbeat often occurs during pregnancy - this is due to the fact that during this period of life a woman’s body undergoes many changes that affect the functioning of internal organs and systems. After the birth of the child, this symptom goes away on its own. Treatment of pregnant women takes place under the full supervision of doctors, because not all medications and pills can be taken during this period.

Varieties

Frequent heartbeats that continue for a long time have the following classification, depending on the location:

  • atrial or supraventricular - characterized by rapid contraction of the atria, while the ventricles of the heart operate normally;
  • ventricular – rapid contraction is observed in the ventricles of the heart;

Depending on the heart rhythm, palpitations can be:

  • sinus - an impulse occurs in a certain node at the same periodicity;
  • arrhythmic - there is a violation of the normal rhythm, the impulses are rapid and there is no sequence of them.

A young child may experience proximal palpitations, which are characterized by a sudden onset and cessation of a period of rapid heart rate.

According to clinical manifestations, they are distinguished:

  • atrial fibrillation – heart rate reaches up to 700 beats per minute;
  • atrial flutter – the heart rhythm is stable and can be up to 350 beats per minute;
  • fibrillation and flutter of the ventricles - due to the high frequency of beats, the heart does not pump blood.

Treatment for each of these types is prescribed individually.

Symptoms

Since increased heartbeat that continues for a long time is itself a symptom, people usually also exhibit symptoms characteristic of the illness that provoked the rhythm disturbance. The following signs are often observed:

  • increase in heart rate;
  • intense pulsation of the carotid artery;
  • the appearance of shortness of breath even with minor physical exertion;
  • attacks of severe dizziness;
  • constant anxiety;
  • discomfort in the chest and heart;
  • darkening before the eyes;
  • general weakness of the body;
  • dry mouth;
  • swelling of the lower extremities;
  • cough without sputum.

Although a rapid heart rate is quite normal for a child, parents should consult a doctor if the following symptoms appear:

  • increase in body temperature;
  • muscle pain;
  • increased sweating and trembling;
  • acquiring a pale skin tone;
  • uncharacteristic breathing;
  • capriciousness - in infants it manifests itself as constant crying;
  • gagging;
  • intestinal dysfunction in the form of diarrhea.

Complications

If you do not promptly treat the cause that caused rapid heartbeat, this can cause a number of complications not only in an adult, but also in a child:

  • the occurrence of blood clots;
  • heart attack;
  • loss of consciousness, which will continue until emergency measures are provided to normalize the rhythm and bring the person out of fainting;
  • acute heart failure;
  • swelling of the lungs;
  • severe weight loss;
  • sudden death of the patient.

In order to avoid consequences, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease in a timely manner.

Diagnostics

In order to determine why the rapid heartbeat occurs, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination of the patient, consisting of the following measures:

Treatment

Since many people are faced with this problem, doctors often hear the question of what to do with a rapid heartbeat. The main thing is to reduce the frequency of heart impulses. If an attack occurs at home or at work, but there are no medications at hand, you need to take a lying position, try to calm down and get rid of tight clothes, hold your breath for a while, and then exhale slowly. Treatment with medications consists of taking:

  • sedatives;
  • tablets that normalize heart rhythm;
  • drugs to eliminate other symptoms. Medicines are prescribed for each patient individually, since the signs and causes are different;
  • medications that improve the flow of oxygen throughout the body.

Treatment with surgery occurs only when the patient does not respond to other treatments over a period of time. During this treatment, small electrodes are implanted in a person, which will be responsible for the rhythm frequency.

Prevention

To ensure that a child or adult never has problems with heart rhythm, it is necessary:

  • lead a healthy lifestyle;
  • spend more time in the fresh air;
  • Perform regular moderate-intensity physical activity;
  • promptly treat any diseases that may cause this symptom;
  • Eliminate caffeine, fatty and salty foods from your diet, and eat foods high in calcium.