Doctors call it arrhythmia, while everybody knows it as irregular heartbeat. Some cases of it are nothing serious, but then there are also those that are considered as life-threatening!
In order to be sure that your life is not put in some form of danger, it’s a good idea for you to receive cardiac evaluation if having an irregular heartbeat seems to be, well, regular.
There are many different types of arrhythmias, according to experts. Some are quite common while others are downright rare. Certain forms of arrhythmias are known to cause the following symptoms:
A feeling that the heart is skipping or fluttering
Pounding in the chest
Chest discomfort
Shortness of breath
Feeling dizzy, woozy or lightheaded
Weakness or fatigue
Do take note that it’s possible for an arrhythmia to come with no symptom at all, and it’s something that can be detected only during physical assessments or tests at the hospital.
Just like what’s mentioned earlier, some types of arrhythmias can cost you your life. Needless to say, it’s of utmost importance to keep having irregular heartbeats from striking in the first place.
Below you will come across some risk factors for irregular heartbeats — a risk factor can be anything that can increase your likelihood of ending up with a health problem.
Excessive Coffee
Coffee contains caffeine, a substance that is a stimulant. If you consume coffee or any other beverage that has caffeine in it in excessive amounts, it’s not unlikely for you to experience irregular heartbeat.
Lots of Alcohol
It’s also a good idea for you to avoid consuming lots and lots of alcohol because, according to experts, it can have a detrimental effect on the electrical impulses that are responsible for the beating of your heart.
Smoking
We all know that smoking is bad. One of the negative things that smoking can cause is irregular heartbeat since nicotine is a stimulant, and also it can damage the heart.
Certain Drugs
Some drugs, OTC and prescription alike, can cause arrhythmias as one of the side effects. There are herbs or herbal supplements that can cause irregular heartbeats, too.
Electrolyte Imbalance
Make sure that you consume plenty of fluids per day because dehydration can also cause irregular heartbeat, especially if you are lacking in electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium.
High Blood Pressure
Make sure that you keep your blood pressure within the normal range by opting for healthy eating habits, exercising on a regular basis, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol, and reducing stress.
Diabetes
There are so many different problems that can be encountered if you have diabetes, so you better put it under control. Otherwise, one of the problems you may end up with is high blood pressure, a risk factor for arrhythmia.
Cardiovascular Disease
Various diseases concerning the heart (and also the blood vessels) can cause arrhythmias or make them worse, so it’s important to keep one’s circulatory system in a healthy state if you want to live a long and happy life.
Thyroid Disorders
Your thyroid is a gland that is situated in your neck. No matter if it’s overactive or underactive, one of the things that it can cause is irregular heartbeats.