Palpitation Health Dictionary

An awareness of the heartbeat. Increase in the normal rate of sudden onset or lasting a few hours, with or without vertigo or fainting. Temporary acceleration may be common, often entirely innocent. Where the beat reaches 100 to 140 per minute it is likely to be due to sinus tachycardia, but higher rates, 180 plus, of sudden onset and offset are due to paroxysmal tachycardia from an abnormal focus of rhythm in atrium or ventricle.

May be caused by anxiety, exercise, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, anaemia, thyroid disorder, a specific fever or presence of a ‘coronary’. Extra-systoles may be felt as a thumping in the chest. May also be caused by excessive digitalis therapy.

Treatment. Where due to shock (Passion flower), overstrain (Ginseng), flatulence (Chamomile), sense of oppression in the chest (Hawthorn), suffocation (Aconite), worse lying on the left side (Cactus), highly sensitive women (Pulsatilla), mental depression (Cactus), congestion of the lungs (Lobelia).

Tea. Combine equal parts – Motherwort and Passion flower. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; 1 cup as necessary.

Tablets/capsules. Chamomile, Hawthorn, Lobelia, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Pulsatilla, Passion flower (Passiflora), Valerian.

Formula. Equal parts: Lily of the Valley, Passion flower. Dose: Powders: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1 teaspoon. Tinctures: 2 teaspoons. Thrice daily in water or honey. Practitioner. Tincture Aconite, BPC 1949. Dose: 0.12 to 0.3ml (2 to 5 drops). OR:– Spartiol (Broom) 20 drops thrice daily. (Klein).

Diet. See: DIET – HEART AND CIRCULATION.

Vitamin E. One 400iu capsule (or tablet) daily.

Minerals. Magnesium 300mg daily. 

Awareness of the heartbeat or a sensation of having a rapid and forceful heartbeat. Palpitations are usually felt in tense situations, or after strenuous exercise or a scare. When

experienced at rest or when calm, they are usually due to ectopic heartbeats and are felt as fluttering or thumping in the chest.

Palpitations may also be due to cardiac arrhythmias and hyperthyroidism.

Recurrent palpitations, or those causing chest pain, breathlessness, or dizziness, may be investigated by a 24-hour ECG and thyroid function tests.

Treatment depends on the cause.

Forcible and/or irregular beating of the HEART such that the person becomes conscious of its action.

Causes As a rule, a person is not conscious of the beating of the heart except when the nervous system is unduly excited. A disorder of the rhythm of the heart (ARRHYTHMIA) may cause palpitations. Sudden emotions, such as fright, or overuse of tobacco, tea, co?ee or alcohol may bring it on. Sometimes it may appear in people with organic heart disease.

Symptoms There may simply be a ?uttering of the heart and a feeling of faintness, or the heart may be felt pounding and the arteries throbbing, causing great distress. The subject may be conscious of the heart missing beats.

Treatment Although these symptoms can be unpleasant, they do not necessarily signify serious disease. Moderate exercise is a good thing. If the person is a smoker, he or she should stop. Tea, co?ee, alcohol or other stimulants should be taken sparingly. If symptoms persist or are severe, the individual should see a doctor and any underlying disorder should be investigated – including by exercise ECG – and treated. The BETA-ADRENOCEPTOR-BLOCKING DRUGS are the most useful drugs in controlling the palpitations of anxiety and those due to some cardiac arrhythmias.

n. an awareness of the heartbeat. This is normal with fear, emotion, or exertion. It may also be a symptom of neurosis, arrhythmias, heart disease, and overactivity of the circulation (as in thyrotoxicosis).

undue awareness of the heartbeat, occasioned by anxiety. Rapid heart beats or abnormal rhythm.