The feeling of irregular heartbeats, pounding, or racing are characterised as heart palpitation. A person may feel pounding primarily in the chest, but it can also happen in the throat and neck.
Although heart palpitations last only for a few seconds or minutes, they may lead to serious health issues if they last longer. Read on to understand how to control heart palpitations.
How to Control Heart Palpitations?
There could be various reasons behind your heart palpitations. Some of the factors that act as its causes are dehydration, less physical activity/ exercises, unhealthy lifestyle, etc. But the good news is that there are some home remedies that can help you control this recurring issue. Let’s have a look at some of them:
1. Managing Stress
Stress is one of the major causes behind the palpitations of your heart. Therefore, stress management is really important in order to prevent this problem. You can engage yourself in mindfulness practices, go for counselling, exercise on a regular basis, start journaling, etc.
2. Vagal Manoeuvres
Our vagus nerve links the brain to our heart. This nerve is responsible for controlling our heart rate. Vagal manoeuvres can help stimulate the nerve and therefore prevent the palpitations from occurring.
3. Drinking Enough Water is Very Important
One of the major reasons for heart palpitation is dehydration. The blood gets thicker when the body loses water; hence, it gets thicker and finds it difficult to move through the veins. This leads to increased pulse rate and hence causes heart palpitation. It is advised to instantly drink a glass of water if someone feels a skipped heartbeat.
Moreover, yellow urine is the sign of dehydration and as a result, it may lead to heart palpitation, so have a glass of water if you see the yellow colour of urine
4. Restoring Electrolyte Balance
The proper functioning of the heart demands appropriate levels of electrolyte to carry out proper conduction of electrical signals. Electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium help the electrical signals conduction and benefit heart health.
To keep the heart healthy and avoid heart palpitation, one must intake food rich in electrolytes. Some examples are sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, etc.
5. By Avoiding Stimulants
Avoiding items and substances that lead to heart palpitations may keep the heart safe. These stimulants that trigger palpitation may include excessive alcohol use, drugs abuse, etc
6. The Intake of Hawthorn Berry Extract
For digestive issues and high blood pressure, hawthorn berry extract can be used. This is a Chinese medicine that we can use to control heart palpitations. Studies show that taking this medicine has reduced heart palpitations compared to those who haven’t taken hawthorn.
It is also found that hawthorn berry extract increases heart health and prevents heart diseases to a large extent.
7. Doing Valsalva Manoeuvres
Just like relaxation techniques, some breathing techniques may help to control heart palpitation. Valsalva manoeuvres are one of them. The whole process of this breathing technique is quite simple. The method starts by pinching the nose and closing the mouth. one needs to exhale as if you are having a bowel movement . Performing this step for 10 to 15 seconds can help control heart palpitation.
8. Eating a Balanced Diet
To keep the heart fit and healthy is very important to have a balanced diet. A balanced diet must include nutritious foods for heart health. Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and foods rich in electrolytes can act as supplements for heart health.
9. Doing Regular Exercises
Apart from a healthy diet, it is very important to do regular exercise. Regular exercise keeps the pulse rate normal and helps reduce stress and control heart palpitation.
How to Prevent Heart Palpitations?
Although there are various steps for controlling heart palpitations, one can also avoid palpitations causes just by following some easy lifestyle tips –
- Regular exercise can prevent heart palpitation causes, which reduces stress and relaxes the body
- Along with regular exercise, meditation and yoga can also help to avoid heart palpitations
- To avoid heart palpitation symptoms, avoid tobacco, nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine.
- A healthy diet that includes electrolyte-rich foods is beneficial in preventing irregular heartbeats
- Another way to avoid heart palpitations is to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
When Does a Person Experience Heart Palpitations?
Although many palpitation symptoms can be observed due to several reasons, there are certain situations when people experience palpitation in general. Some are discussed below –
- Heart palpitation can be caused by anxiety and panic – When someone is in a panic and has anxiety issues, the body reacts differently, which results in heart palpitation.
- People may experience heart palpitations after eating. When someone consumes alcohol and spicy food, their bodies react, which might cause heart palpitations.
- An increase in blood pressure can also lead to heart palpitation – some studies show that a sudden rise in blood pressure levels can be one of the reasons for heart palpitations.
- Pregnant women can experience heart palpitations symptoms; during pregnancy, blood circulation in the body increases to support the baby. Hence, it may lead to skipped heartbeats or increased heart palpitations.
In the case of pregnant women, heart palpitation happens naturally as a part of the whole pregnancy process. However, this kind of palpitation is harmless.
Conclusion
Heart palpitation is not very serious, as home remedies can control it. If the pulse rate or heartbeat is far from normal, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
To keep the heart healthy and avoid heart palpitations, one needs to take essential steps to keep the heart healthy. Regular exercise, one may stay healthy and prevent heart palpitations by maintaining stress, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
