Get those Palpitations Diagnosed and Treated in Brooklyn

Palpitations of your heart can make you feel like something serious is taking place. In most cases, there is not a problem, but it could also reveal something that you need a doctor to look into. Sometimes, they do indicate a serious heart condition.

Complications

These fluctuations of your heart can be very distracting and are often not worth paying attention to. On the other hand, it may be caused by a serious condition of your heart that could lead to fainting, a stroke, cardiac arrest, or heart failure.

Symptoms

The symptoms often include the feeling that your heart is beating faster than it should, or it may be skipping beats. It may also be pounding harder than normal, or rapidly fluttering. In addition to feeling the pounding in your chest, you may be able to feel these sensations in your neck or throat. They may also be brief, or ongoing.

Causes

In most cases, the cause of your palpitations is not in the heart. Some of the most popular causes are emotional. These may be caused by stress, panic attacks, depression, or from anxiety. Other causes include exercising strenuously, various stimulants – including coffee, cough medications, nicotine, etc., hormone changes in women, mineral imbalances, dehydration, anemia, low blood sugar, acid reflux, thyroid problems, and fever.

Heart problems may also be the cause. It may indicate a fast heart rate (tachycardia), a slow heart rate (bradycardia), or a heart rate that is irregular.

Diagnosis

When you arrive at the doctor’s office, you can expect there to be several tests. The first one is going to be a physical exam, and listening to your heart with a stethoscope. Most likely, there will also be an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests, echocardiography, a stress test, and more. You may also be asked to wear a Holter monitor or an event recorder for a couple of days to several weeks.

When to See a Doctor

Oftentimes, the problem does not last very long. This means that it may not be occurring at all when you go to visit the doctor. This makes it a good idea to record basic information about them to relate later to the doctor. You should go to a doctor if your symptoms continue or get worse, when the symptoms are severe – such as having chest pain, dizziness or fainting, if there is a history of heart-related problems, or if there are other health problems.

Treatment

Depending on the problem, the treatment will attempt to solve it. It may require medications, changes in lifestyle, or surgery.

Prevention

Preventing these unwanted sensations may be rather simple in some people. You will want to make sure that you get enough sleep, stop using tobacco, reduce your caffeine and alcohol, exercise regularly, and reduce your stress.

Dr. Abdul Malik, MD is a Cardiologist who has been practicing for over 24 years. He diagnoses and treats heart palpitations. Over the years, he has taught many young doctors in various hospitals in the fields of Internal Medicine and Cardiology. His thoroughness and gentle manner with his patients have earned him the title of the Consumer’s Choice Award for Top Doctors.