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Palpitations & Ectopic Beats

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Palpitations & Ectopic Beats Palpitations & ectopic beats What are palpitations? What are ectopic beats? What causes them? The term ‘palpitations’ is used to describe the Ectopic beats are early (premature) or extra Palpitations and ectopic beats are usually nothing sensation of feeling your own heart beating. Some heartbeats, which can cause you to have to worry about. The cause is often unknown - or say this feels like a fluttering in your chest, or your palpitations. ‘Ectopic’ means out of place. ‘idiopathic‘. However, you are more likely to feel heart pounding. Others describe it as feeling like a Ectopic beats happen when cells away from your palpitations if you have a heart condition, such as an thud or movement in your chest, which you can feel hearts own natural pacemaker get a little excited abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). They can also in your neck or through your ear when you are lying (or irritable) and release an electrical signal, causing be caused by a chemical imbalance in your body down. an ‘extra’ or early heartbeat. There is often a tiny such as a low blood potassium level, or injury to the pause after the extra beat, giving you the sensation heart muscle such as a heart attack. of a ‘missed’ beat. Palpitations are very common and for most Stimulants such as these can trigger palpitations: The two most common types of ectopic beats are: people are harmless. • alcohol • premature atrial contraction (PAC) - an early • caffeine However, they can be a nuisance and feel very electrical impulse in the atria, which are the upper unpleasant at times. They often happen when chambers of your heart • certain medicines (both prescription you have over exerted yourself, for example and over-the-counter) through vigorous exercise, or when you are feeling • premature ventricular contraction (PVC) - an early particularly anxious or stressed. electrical impulse in the ventricles, which are the • recreational drugs lower chambers of your heart. • tobacco. Like most causes of palpitations, ectopic beats are You are also more likely to develop palpitations or usually harmless and do not mean you have a serious ectopic beats if you are pregnant, or going through heart condition. They generally require no treatment the menopause. unless they occur very often or are very severe. Heart Helpline What tests will I need? If you’re concerned about palpitations, go and see Our cardiac nurses and heart your GP. He or she may arrange for you to have an health advisors are here to answer electrocardiogram (ECG). If your ECG is abnormal or your questions about anything your symptoms continue to bother you, you may heart related. need to have further tests, such as a 24-hour ECG. Call us on 0300 330 3311 Will I need treatment? Whether or not you need treatment will depend on Similar cost to 01 or 02 numbers. the underlying cause of your palpitations, and how Lines are open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. severe your symptoms are. Avoiding the triggers of This information does not replace the advice palpitations and ectopic beats may help. Medicines, that your doctor or nurse may give you. If you such as beta blockers, may be prescribed to lower are worried about your heart health in any way, your heart rate and control your heart rhythm. contact your GP or local healthcare provider. In more serious cases you may be referred to a specialist, especially if you already have heart disease or your doctor thinks you may have a heart condition. ©British Heart Foundation 2014, a registered charity in England & Wales (225971) and Scotland (SC039426).
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