A premature heartbeat is caused by an electrical impulse.The proper timing is being restored and you might feel like your heart has stopped.It's almost always medically harmless, but the feeling of an ectopic heartbeat can cause anxiety.If you have any pre-existing heart conditions or a family history of heart disease, you should see your doctor.In rare cases, more testing and medical intervention is required, but you will likely be given advice for lifestyle changes and addressing anxiety.
Step 1: If you feel missed or have extra heartbeats, visit your doctor.
Everyone experiences heartbeats from time to time.They are completely harmless in most cases.If they bother you, make an appointment with your doctor.You may not feel a heartbeat at all.It often feels like your heart has skipped a beat and then added a quick beat to compensate if you notice it.If you have heart disease, have had a heart attack, or are at increased risk for heart problems, contact your doctor the first time you feel a skipped or extra heartbeat.
Step 2: Simple diagnostic testing should be stopped.
In most cases, your doctor will consider your symptoms, listen to your heart, and tell you that your experience is normal and nothing to be concerned about.It is worth your peace of mind to get this reassurance.Unless you have existing heart issues or are at an elevated risk, you won't need additional testing.Additional testing may include: wearing a Holter monitor to record your heart activity for 24 hours; having yourheart imaged or scanned using one or more of several methods; and/or undergoing an exercise test.If you have an under active thyroid, it can cause irregular heartbeats.
Step 3: Don't be ashamed to admit that you feel uncomfortable.
Even if you already know that ectopic heartbeats are normal and harmless, feeling them can be really distressing.Being stressed can cause more ectopic heartbeats.Let your doctor know if the condition is taking an emotional toll even if you have been given a medical OK.Even though they are less medically problematic than every other type of irregular heartbeat, patients are just as likely to label the feeling of ectopic heartbeats as uncomfortable or worrisome.
Step 4: Counseling can help manage anxiety.
For many people, ectopic heartbeats are more of a mental health issue than a physical one.Consider seeing a licensed mental health professional if you want to manage your anxiety.Your therapist might use cognitive behavioral therapy to help retrain you when it comes to your heart issues.
Step 5: You should reduce your alcohol and caffeine intake.
It's more likely for your heart to go out of rhythm if you have alcohol and caffeine in your system.If your ectopic heartbeats go away, try cutting back or completely eliminating.If you notice your heart skips beats after drinking a double espresso or having a night out at the bar, you should keep a record of it.
Step 6: Ask about your medications if you want to avoid recreational drugs.
There are many drugs that can impact your heart rhythm.Reducing your ectopic heartbeats is one of the reasons to steer clear.Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can affect your heart rhythm.Discuss your current medication with your doctor to see if there are any changes you need to make.Nicotine can cause irregular heartbeats.
Step 7: Discuss your exercise regimen with your doctor.
When their heart is beating faster, ectopic heartbeats are more common for some people.Elevating your heart rate during aerobic exercise is a good thing, but there may be ways to adjust your exercise routine and reduce your experience of ectopic beats.Your doctor can recommend the best exercise regimen for you based on your current fitness level and health conditions.They may suggest that you swim laps at a slightly lower intensity, but for a longer duration.Don't stop exercising because of ectopic heartbeats!Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, regular aerobic exercise is essential to your heart health.It's important to keep a healthy workout schedule.
Step 8: Improve your magnesium and potassium intake.
In some cases, low levels of potassium can contribute to ectopic heartbeats.Adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet is something you can discuss with your doctor.In some cases, your doctor may recommend a supplement.Fruits and vegetables with high levels of potassium include bananas, melons, sweet potatoes, squash, prunes and tomatoes.Foods with high levels of magnesium include almonds, tuna, and lima beans.Regardless of the impact on your ectopic heartbeats, eating a heart-healthy diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, and whole grains will provide numerous health benefits.Maintaining a healthy diet can help regulate your blood sugar and keep your heart rate stable.
Step 9: There are ways to reduce stress in your life.
Feelings of heart skip can cause anxiety and can contribute to ectopic heartbeats.Finding healthy ways to relieve stress can help break the cycle.It is possible to try meditation, yoga,Mindfulness techniques, exercise, spending time with loved ones, or even make a career change.Stress can increase your blood pressure and lead to irregular heartbeats.Discuss ways to deal with stress with your doctor.If you're dealing with depression related to your stress, they may recommend therapy with a mental health professional.
Step 10: If you have heart disease, don't ignore ectopic beats.
Most people only need to be evaluated if it is causing anxiety.If you have had a heart attack, have heart disease, or are at an elevated risk, you should have your heartbeats evaluated by your doctor.There is a good chance that your ectopic heartbeats are normal and harmless even if you are in the higher risk group.They may be an indicator of other issues with your heart rhythm.
Step 11: Require more rigorous testing for underlying issues.
If you are in a higher risk group, your doctor will be more aggressive in evaluating your ectopic heartbeats.They will still listen to your heartbeat and ask about your symptoms, but they may also recommend testing, such as wearing a Holter monitor, which analyzes your cardiac activity for 24 hours.Evaluate your heart's electrical activity with an electrocardiogram.You can use one or more of the following to look more closely at your heart.While your heart is being monitored, exercise testing can involve walking or jogging on a treadmill.If you want to check your glands, you should get a thyroid panel bloodwork done.
Step 12: Do you have any other heart rhythm conditions?
It is possible that your doctor will discover other heartbeat issues with additional testing.Arrhythmias, which involve persistent issues with the heart's rhythm, are the most common.Other conditions can be treated with lifestyle changes, medications, surgical procedures or the implant of a pacemaker.These conditions can be much more serious than ectopic heartbeats and should always be addressed by your doctor.
Step 13: Discuss your medications with your doctor.
Doctors will prescribe drugs to help with irregular heartbeats.Calcium channel blockers can help regulate your blood pressure and heart rate.
Step 14: Discuss procedures that can be used for ectopic beats.
Your doctor may decide that your ectopic heartbeats should be addressed directly.They might recommend a procedure called catheter ablation.Roughly 90 percent of the time, this procedure is effective.During the procedure, a catheter is fed into your heart and electrical impulses are used to destroy the tissue.