But can symptoms like these ever be signs that something more serious is going on? Is it a passing thing? Or an early sign of heart trouble? On their own, occasional experiences like these are probably nothing to worry about. Nearly half of all American adults have some sort of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease.
A major event like a heart attack or stroke is too often the first sign of trouble for many people. However, understanding heart disease risk factors , early warning signs and commonly overlooked heart disease symptoms may help you and your doctor recognize problems sooner. So, what do you need to be on the lookout for? Below we cover seven key heart disease symptoms and signs to watch for.
Chest pain or pressure might be two of the first things that come to mind when you think about heart trouble. Angina is relatively common, but it feels different for everyone. For example:. There are two types of angina: stable and unstable. Stable angina is more predictable and only lasts for a short time.
Unstable angina on the other hand may appear unexpectedly, feel more intense, last longer than just a few minutes and will require medical attention. Make an appointment to talk about it with your doctor. Together, you may be able to catch symptoms before they become an issue, not to mention gaining peace of mind. Make an appointment. Shortness of breath, which is also called dyspnea, is a heart disease symptom that can be easily overlooked.
Unfortunately, they are usually gone by the time you get to the doctor's office. That makes pinning them down a joint effort.
One of the most helpful pieces of information is your story of how your heart palpitations feel, how often they strike, and when.
Try to answer some of these questions before seeing your doctor:. A physical exam can reveal telltale signs of palpitations. Your doctor may hear a murmur or other sound when listening to your heart that suggests a problem with one of the heart's valves. Your doctor may also blood tests if he or she suspects a thyroid imbalance , anemia , or low potassium, or other problems that can cause or contribute to palpitations. An electrocardiogram ECG is a standard tool for evaluating someone with palpitations.
This recording of your heart's electrical activity shows the heart's rhythm and any overt or subtle disturbances, but only over the course of 12 seconds or so. Your doctor may want to record your heart rhythm for longer to identify the cause of the palpitations.
If your palpitations come with chest pain, your doctor may want you to have an exercise stress test. If they come with a racing pulse or dizziness, an electrophysiology study using a special probe inserted into the heart may be in order. If you are at risk for a heart rhythm problem, or if palpitations are interfering with your life or mental health, a recording of your heart's rhythm for 24 hours or even longer may capture an electrical "signature" of the problem.
Getting visual evidence of this signature can help determine how best to treat your palpitations. A Holter monitor constantly records your heart's rhythm for 24 hours as you go about your daily activities. Small patches called electrodes are stuck onto your chest and attached to a recorder that you carry in a pocket or wear around your neck or waist.
During the test, you keep a diary of what you are doing and how you feel, along with the time of day of each entry. When you return the monitor to your doctor, he or she will look at the recording to see if there have been any irregular heart rhythms. Twenty-four hours often isn't long enough to detect palpitations.
An event recorder can monitor the heart for days or weeks. There's even an implantable recorder that can invisibly monitor the heart for a year or more.
Stress and anxiety are two other key triggers of skipped beats. A two-step approach can help here. To keep palpitations away, try meditation, the relaxation response, exercise, yoga, tai chi, or another stress-busting activity. If palpitations do appear, breathing exercises or tensing and relaxing individual muscle groups in your body can help.
Deep breathing. Sit quietly and close your eyes. Place one hand on your abdomen. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
Feel your abdomen move outward. Exhale through your nose or mouth, whichever feels more comfortable. If your heart is racing unexpectedly, you can try to stop it yourself with one of the following maneuvers.
However, if they don't work promptly and the symptoms persist, have someone drive you to the emergency department or call Valsalva maneuver. Pinch your nose closed with the fingers of one hand.
Close your mouth. Try to breathe out forcibly through your nose. Bear down. Clench your stomach muscles and your anal sphincter. Learn more. Bradyarrhythmia means a slow heart rate with an arrhythmia. It is not always a cause for concern but may signal a serious underlying condition. Atrial fibrillation creates an irregular heart rhythm through electrical signal malfunctions.
Learn more about the causes and symptoms of the…. Ways to stop heart palpitations. Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. Home remedies When to see a doctor Takeaway We include products we think are useful for our readers.
Home remedies to relieve heart palpitations. Share on Pinterest Relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation, may help to reduce palpitations. Share on Pinterest Avocados and bananas are high in potassium. Share on Pinterest Walking can help to strengthen the heart and reduce palpitations. When to see a doctor. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.
Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What are dysrhythmia and arrhythmia? Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M.
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