When should you see a doctor about heart palpitations?
Palpitations are usually harmless, but can also be the beginning of a serious cardiac arrhythmia. If you also experience dizziness, chest pain or a clearly irregular heartbeat, see your GP rather than waiting.
Heart palpitations are common and usually have an innocent cause. Stress, too much caffeine, lack of sleep or psychological tension can all be behind them. That said, an irregular heartbeat can sometimes be the first sign of a serious cardiac arrhythmia or structural heart disease, so ignoring it completely is not wise.
So when should you actually see a doctor? In any case if the palpitations are accompanied by dizziness, a feeling of faintness, shortness of breath or chest pain. Also if you notice that your heart is genuinely beating irregularly (not just fast, but also 'skipping' or feeling chaotic), or if the symptoms recur regularly, a visit to your GP is appropriate. One in five people wait too long before seeking medical help, including for heart complaints. That is risky, because a condition diagnosed in time is easier to treat.
A special situation is atrial fibrillation, a form of irregular heartbeat that can occur in episodes. Palpitations are the most commonly reported symptom of this condition. Left untreated, atrial fibrillation significantly increases the risk of stroke. This makes a prompt diagnosis particularly important in these cases.
Are you an athlete and do you regularly experience palpitations during or after exercise? Always have this checked. In athletes, palpitations can be an indication of an underlying heart condition that would not surface with an ordinary healthy lifestyle. Using an electrocardiogram (ECG) and any additional tests, your doctor can assess relatively quickly whether something is wrong.
If no heart problem turns out to be present, a psychological background such as anxiety or chronic stress is a serious possibility. That cause is very treatable, but a doctor must first rule out a heart problem before you pursue that direction.
Based on diagnostic guideline literature, an observational study on atrial fibrillation, sports medicine literature and population research. No intervention RCTs are available for this diagnostic question; strength of evidence is 'moderate' for the signal value of symptoms and the severity of possible underlying conditions.
How often should I measure my blood pressure at home, and what is normal?
Measuring at home gives a more reliable picture than a single reading at the doctor's office: measure at least seven days, twice a day, and use 135/85 mmHg as the upper limit of normal. Fluctuations and consistently elevated values are just as important as the average.
What does my CRP value (inflammation) say about my heart?
A high hsCRP value points to chronic inflammation and predicts a clearly elevated long-term risk of cardiovascular problems, even more strongly than well-known cholesterol values. It is an independent risk factor that deserves serious attention.
Does reducing inflammation help your heart in the long term?
Targeted treatment to reduce inflammation, particularly with low-dose colchicine, measurably reduces the risk of serious heart events in people with coronary artery disease. Discuss with your cardiologist whether this is relevant for you, because not every drug works and there are safety considerations that require careful weighing.
Are erectile problems an early sign of heart disease?
Erectile problems caused by poor blood flow precede a heart attack or stroke by an average of 2 to 5 years. If you have this type of complaint, also have your cardiovascular risk checked by your doctor.
Should I take statins if I have (not yet) had a heart problem?
Whether statins are worthwhile depends on your personal risk. At a calculated 10-year risk of 10% or higher and at least one risk factor, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or smoking, major guidelines recommend statins for people aged 40 to 75.
Does sitting all day increase your risk of heart problems?
Sitting a lot increases your risk of heart failure and heart-related mortality, even if you exercise regularly. Just 30 minutes less sitting per day produces a measurable improvement, so try to break up long periods of sitting regularly.