Heart Palpitations

What are Heart Palpitations ❓

 Heartbeats that become noticeable 💕

 Causes: stress/anxiety, heart disease or rhythm problems and some conditions e.g. hyperthyroidism, some medications, drugs; alcohol/caffeine/nicotine/illicit substances 💊

What are the Symptoms of Palpitations ❓

 Heart may feel like it is:

 Racing 🏃

 Skipping

 Pounding 🥁

 Irregular

 Fluttering 🦋

How do you Diagnose Palpitations ❓

 Medical assessment 🔍

 Electrocardiogram (ECG) heart tests

 Blood test (for organ function and blood count) 💉

How do you Treat Palpitations ❓

 Lifestyle advice: reduce stress, stop smoking/drinking and avoid drugs 🚬

 Monitoring of patient

 May need referral to specialist 🏥

 Hospital admission if there are also serious symptoms (e.g. breathlessness)

Why should I Worry about Palpitations ❓

 Most of the time palpitations are not serious ✅

 Palpitations with other symptoms may be a sign of underlying heart problems

 May be more serious if there is an underlying heart problem 💔