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Symptoms & Signs Index |
| Palpitation | |
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Definition: A pounding or racing heartbeat sensation that is felt in the chest, throat, or neck. |
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Medical terms related to
palpitation : Irregular heartbeat, Palpitations, Heart pounding or racing;, Rapid heart rate, Racing heart, Tachycardia |
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Common
causes of palpitation: o Exercise o Anxiety, stress, fear o Fever o Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, diet pills o Anemia o Hyperventilation o Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism o Depression o Hyperthyroidism o Hypoglycemia (Abnormal decrease of sugar in the blood) o Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC) o Bradycardia (very slow heartbeat) o Mitral valve prolapse: It occurs when the valve separating two of the heart's chambers malfunctions. o Hypoxemia (deficient oxygenation of the blood) o Atrial Fibrillation (AF): Very rapid and uncoordinated contractions of the atria of the heart resulting in a lack of synchronism between heartbeat and pulse beat; called also Auricular Fibrillation. o Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP): Incomplete closing of one or both cardiac mitral valve flaps during systole that is often symptomless, but may be marked by varied symptoms (chest pain, fatigue, dizziness, dyspnea, or palpitations) leading in some cases to endocarditis or ventricular tachycardia (VT);called also Barlow's Syndrome.
Other Causes of
palpitation: |
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Call 911
or go to the hospital if palpitation
is accompanied by: o Chest pain or discomfort o Dizziness o Fainting o Lightheadedness o Shortness of breath o Weakness |
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Call your
doctor if palpitation is
accompanied by: o Diabetes o High blood pressure o Smoking o A new or different heart palpitation o Heart beat more than 100 per minute at rest |
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Diagnostic tests
that may be performed include: o EKG o Ambulatory cardiac monitoring (A Holter monitor is used for 24 hours) o Echocardiogram o Electrophysiology study (EPS) o Coronary angiography (Testing competency of the coronary blood vessels) |
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Prevention and
self-care: o Avoid smoking o Eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet o Exercise regularly o Reduce your stress with techniques like yoga, or tai chi o Control your blood pressure and cholesterol |
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Medications
for palpitation may
include: o Propranolol (Inderal) o Metoprolol, Lopressor, Toprol Xl o Amiodarone, Cordarone o Atenolol (Tenormin) o Calcium Channel Blockers o Quinidine, Quinaglute, Quinidex o Nifedipine, Adalat, Procardia o Verapamil, Calan, Verelan, Verelan Pm, Isoptin, Covera-hs o Procainamide, Pronestyl, Procan-sr, Procanbid |
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Back to online Medical Symptom Checker |
| Diagnosis of palpitation, Reasons of palpitation, Prevention of palpitation, Definition of palpitation, Treatments for palpitation | |