Skip to main content

Causes, Risk Factors and Complications of Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations can be triggered by stress, exercise, medication, or rarely a medical condition which feels of having a fast beating, fluttering or pounding heart. They’re usually harmless, can be worrisome sometimes. Rarely, they can be a symptom of a more serious heart condition, such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), that might necessitate treatment. Symptoms include rapid fluttering, skipping beats, fast beating, flip-flopping, pounding. Apart from your chest, you might feel palpitations in the throat or neck which can occur during activity or at rest.

If your palpitations are accompanied by chest discomfort or pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, severe dizziness, etc. immediately seek emergency medical attention. Talk to your doctor if you have a history of cardiovascular disease and have palpitations that occur frequently or worsen who’ll most probably suggest heart-monitoring tests to see if your palpitations are caused by a more serious heart problem. There’s little risk of complications unless a heart condition is causing your palpitations. Possible complications include fainting, cardiac arrest, stroke and heart failure.


Get trained in the life-saving CPR procedure to be able to efficiently handle out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases. Select a certified training site for CPR certification Nashville, such as AHA certified CPR Nashville in Tennessee. Both theoretical and practical training are imparted to the students.

Heart Palpitations Risk Factors:
The risk of developing palpitations is higher for people who are highly stressed, are pregnant, have an anxiety disorder or suffers from regular panic attacks, have an overactive thyroid gland, suffers from other heart problems, such as an arrhythmia, heart defect, previous heart attack or previous heart surgery.

Causes:
Often the cause can’t be found, some common causes are depression, strenuous exercise, fever; strong emotional responses like stress, anxiety or panic attacks; menstruation, pregnancy or menopause related hormonal changes; thyroid hormone in excess or too little.

CPR steps everyone should know:
CPR steps that comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths help with circulation and get oxygen into the body in a cardiac arrest victim. Early use of an AED, if one is available, can restart a ticker with an abnormal rhythm (most cardiac arrests occur due to an abnormal heart rhythm called Ventricular Fibrillation). If you come across a victim, open the airway to check if they are breathing (don’t begin CPR if a patient is breathing normally). Then, get help. Send someone to call for help as soon as you have checked breathing if you aren’t alone and have the person confirm the call has been made. Follow these CPR steps while help is on the way:

1.      Kneel beside the victim after making sure he/she is lying on his back on a firm surface. Then, place the heel of your hand on the center of the chest.

2.      Begin chest compressions by keeping your arms straight and covering the first hand with the heel of your other hand and interlocking the fingers of both hands together. Your fingers should not touch the patient’s chest or rib cage so keep them raised.

3.      Repeat to give 30 compressions at a rate of 100 compressions per minute by pressing down on the chest about two inches.

4.      Then move to the victim’s head. Open the airway by tilting the head and lifting the chin. The mouth of the patient should fall open slightly.

5.      Take a normal breath, put your mouth over the patient’s, and blow until you can see his chest rise. Give 2 breaths.

6.      Remove your mouth while looking along the chest watching the chest fall.

7.      Place your hands on the chest again and repeat the CPR cycle of 30 chest compressions, followed by two rescue breaths.
At CPR Nashville, to sign up for a course call on (615) 638-0005.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Revitalize Your Skills: AHA BLS and ACLS Renewal in Nashville with CPR Nashville!

  Introduction: In the bustling heart of Nashville, amidst the vibrant music scene and lively atmosphere, there's a crucial rhythm that transcends melodies—a rhythm of preparedness, resilience, and life-saving skills. At the forefront of this rhythm stands CPR Nashville, an American Heart Association (AHA) training site dedicated to equipping individuals with the knowledge and expertise to respond effectively to emergencies. As healthcare providers, first responders, or individuals seeking to bolster their CPR and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) abilities, maintaining current certifications is not just a formality—it's a lifeline. CPR Nashville recognizes this fundamental truth and offers a comprehensive array of renewal courses tailored to fit the needs of Nashville's diverse community. With CPR Nashville, renewal isn't just about meeting requirements; it's about embracing a commitment to excellence and ensuring readiness to act swiftly and confidently in crit

Facts about a Heart Valve Surgery and CPR Training in Nashville, TN

There are four valves in our heart which makes sure that the blood flows through the heart in the correct direction. If one or more of your valves is diseased or damaged, your blood flow can get affected in two ways: 1.       Valve Stenosis or Narrowing - Valve stenosis is when your valve does not open fully which obstructs the flow of blood. 2.       Valve incompetence, or regurgitation, or a leaky valve- If the valve does not close properly, it will cause blood to leak backwards. Individuals with heart valve disease need little or no treatment. However, to improve the symptoms and quality of life a doctor may advise to have surgery on your valve. Treatment Options : Talking about valve surgery, there are two options- valve repair and valve replacement. The former is often used for mitral valves that aren’t seriously damaged but become floppy and leak whereas valve replacement involves replacement of diseased valve with a new one with the most common types of rep

CPR and AED: Life-Saving Skills Everyone in Nashville Should Know

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. As of July 2023, the American Heart Association reports that immediate CPR can double or even triple the chances of survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest. With more than 350,000 cases of cardiac arrest happening outside hospitals each year in the U.S., it’s clear these are essential skills for all citizens to learn. For residents of Nashville looking to get certified in CPR and AED use, CPR Nashville provides American Heart Association-approved training courses for all ages and experience levels. Read on to learn more about the life-saving techniques you’ll gain and how to sign up for an upcoming class. What is CPR and How Does it Help? CPR is used when someone’s heart stops beating effectively. It includes chest compressions to mimic the heart’s pumping action and rescue breaths to provide oxygen. Properly adminis