Quiz: Do you know what causes heart palpitations?
Palpitation symptoms vary from patient to patient, but there are some common features.
Heart palpitations can be a sign of a more serious heart problem. Take the quiz below to learn more and see if you should speak with a specialist about your heart:
True or False: Caffeine-related palpitations increased when espresso-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes became popular in the 1990's.
True. Caffeine is a common substance associated with palpitations, with some people more to any amount of stimulant than others. Reducing or eliminating beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee or soda, can lower your likelihood of having heart palpitations
Which of the following can cause heart palpitations:
A. Alcohol, recreational drugs, and nicotine
B. Eating too much chocolate
C. Pregnancy
D. Herbal supplements; cold, asthma, and allergy medications
E. Exercise
F. Anxiety, stress, panic, or other strong emotions
G. All the above
G. Many things can cause heart palpitations, even dehydration. Certain underlying conditions can also cause heart palpitations, including heart disease, heart valve defects, an overactive thyroid, low levels of oxygen in the blood, and an electrolyte imbalance.
True or false: You should avoid regular exercise if you have heart palpitations.
False. If your heart palpitations are not caused by an underlying condition, you can reduce instances of heart palpitations with regular exercise. You can also reduce instances by lowering alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine intake; reducing stress and anxiety as much as possible; and learning relation techniques such as yoga, meditation, or tai chi. If you’ve experienced heart palpitations, or another heart condition, you should talk to your doctor before starting a new type of exercise.
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True or false: One-time standard electrocardiograms (EKGs) are the most effective way to detect
heart rhythm abnormalities.
False.An electrocardiogram is a representation of the electrical activity of the heart in multiple views. It records about 12 seconds, and patients with palpitations may or may not have an abnormality on their EKG during that time. That is why many physicians use ambulatory EKGs or Holter monitors (ongoing EKG monitoring for hours or days) to try to make a diagnosis instead.
However, a standard EKG may reveal other heart problems such as electrical abnormalities, which may provide clues to an underlying diagnosis that the palpitations represent. While an EKG is a valuable test to check your heartbeat, it is not particularly sensitive for detecting heart rhythm abnormalities.
Atrial fibrillation (Afib), an irregular heartbeat, affects how many people in the U.S.:
A. 1 million
B. 3 million
C. 6 million
D. 9 million
C. Afib is an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that starts in the upper chambers of the heart. People with Afib develop an abnormal, rapid heartbeat when the upper chambers beat out of sync with the lower chambers. Heart palpitations are the most common symptom of Afib.
For patients with Afib, an electrophysiologist will perform diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the arrhythmia. Once the disorder is identified, the electrophysiologist will work with you to create a care plan that meets your needs. This may include medications, lifestyle changes, procedures, and/or implanted devices to correct the problem.