Is your heart racing or skipping beats? Learn when it could be an arrhythmia

Have you ever noticed your heart suddenly racing or feeling like it skips a beat? Divya Korpu, M.B.B.S., with the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, explains what causes these sensations and whether they can be treated.

What you’re experiencing may be an abnormal heart rhythm, also known as an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias fall into two categories: too fast or too slow. A racing heart or a skipped beat typically falls into the “too fast” category. When an abnormal heartbeat interrupts the normal rhythm, you may feel palpitations- sensations that your heart is racing, fluttering, skipping a beat- or a sense of panic. Often these symptoms are more noticeable at night or when lying down.

In younger people, typically those in their 20s to 50s, the heart may suddenly speed up from a normal rate to 180-200 beats per minute. This rapid heartbeat can cause light headedness, dizziness, anxiety or, in some cases, fainting.

Fast or skipped heartbeats can originate in either the upper or lower chambers of the heart. Those that begin in the top chamber are called premature atrial contractions (PACs), while those starting in the bottom chambers are premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Although they can feel alarming, PACs and PVCs generally aren’t dangerous or life-threatening. They don’t cause heart attacks, strokes or increase the risk of death.

These irregular heartbeats may be caused by:

An abnormal electric circuit that people are born with. Thyroid disorders. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or menopause.

Excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption.

If symptoms are infrequent and don’t interfere with daily activities, people often learn to live with them. However, if they become bothersome, medication may help suppress the extra heartbeats.

One way to slow a sudden racing heart is by performing a vagal manoeuvrer, which can help interrupt the abnormal rhythm. Vagal manoeuvrers include bearing down like you are having a bowel movement, blowing into a straw with one end closed, clearing your ears as you might on an air plane, dipping your face in ice-cold water or taking a cold shower.

If you’re experiencing a racing heart, noticing skipped beats or symptoms of an irregular heart rhythm, consult with your healthcare professional or a cardiologist to determine whether further evaluation or treatment is needed.

(Ismael Ruiz)