What Your Irregular Heartbeat May Be Telling You

Butterflies, skipping a beat, all aflutter — we’ve come up with a lot of ways to describe what it feels like when our hearts don’t beat regularly when we’re excited, nervous or anxious. Legitimate heart problems can also cause these feelings, so if you regularly notice an irregular heartbeat, it’s time to see a doctor.

What Causes an Irregular Heartbeat?

“Your heartbeat is controlled by electrical signals inside the heart,” says Dr. Stuart Smalheiser, a board-certified cardiologist at Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists. “This electrical activity can sometimes be altered, causing an irregular heartbeat. When the heartbeat becomes abnormal, it is called an arrhythmia, or heart rhythm disorder.”

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Many different things can disrupt the normal flow of electrical impulses inside the heart. Occasional irregularity can occur because of lifestyle factors, including stress, anxiety and alcohol consumption, as well as caffeine.

Medical conditions can also damage the heart muscle or cause problems with the heart’s structure, leading to arrhythmia. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and thyroid disorders. In some cases, the arrhythmia disappears once the underlying cause is addressed.

Types of Heart Rhythm Disorders

There are several types of arrhythmias, defined by the speed and rhythm of heartbeat as well as where in the heart they occur.

• Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder. It causes an irregular heartbeat.
• Atrial flutter causes an abnormally rapid but regular heartbeat.
• Bradycardia means the heartbeat is abnormally slow, sometimes not fast enough to pump sufficient blood.
• Premature contractions are early or extra heartbeats in the heart’s upper or lower chambers.
• Tachycardia is an abnormally fast heart rate — more than 100 heartbeats per minute.

When Should You Be Worried About an Irregular Heartbeat?

Many people experience irregular heartbeats that last only a moment, happen infrequently and are not cause for concern. However, some arrhythmias can be highly disruptive or even dangerous. Unfortunately, it is not possible to know on your own how severe an irregular heartbeat is. That is why it is worthwhile to get it checked out by a doctor.

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“One example is atrial fibrillation, the arrhythmia I see often in my practice,” Dr. Smalheiser says. “Left untreated, atrial fibrillation can lead to life-threatening complications including stroke. That is why I urge people to be aware that seemingly minor symptoms, such as dizziness and fatigue, can be signs of a potential heart problem.”

Early detection and proper, timely management of a heart rhythm disorder are vital to bringing relief of troubling symptoms as well as preventing serious problems before they develop. Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Feeling that the heart is pounding or racing
• Palpitations (sense that the heart is fluttering)
• Persistent, severe fatigue
• Shortness of breath

4 Tips for a Healthier Heart

Prevention is the best way to avoid heart trouble before it starts. To protect your heart health:

1. Follow a few basic heart-healthy food rules.
2. Get 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day.
3. Discuss your personal risk factors for heart disease with your doctor.
4. Receive regular heart health checkups, such as screenings for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease or vascular disease.

To schedule an appointment with one of our heart care specialists in Beaufort/Port Royal, Okatie/Bluffton, or Varnville/Hampton, call 843-770-4550.