Heart problem?
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Arrhythmia is a disturbance of the normal rhythm of the heart. Palpitations are an unpleasent awareness of your own heartbeat. Arrythmias can happen naturally or have other causes such as caffeine, alcohol (and dehydration), smoking (nicotine), anxiety, exercise (adrenaline), medication, underlying heart or valve disease, thyroid problems (over active thyroid), hypertension (high blood pressure), Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome(WPW - an extra electrical conduction pathway in the heart), or hypokalaemia (low potassium levels in the blood).
Variation in heartbeat is normal but if you have any of the following as well, then you should definitely see your GP a.s.a.p
Chest pain, heaviness or tightness, difficulty breathing (don't delay call 999)
Dizzyness
Sweating
Fainting
Your GP may refer you to your local hospitals cardiology department to check your heart rhythm (resting ECG or 24 hour tape) and internal structure (using an ultrasound echo machine). Your GP may also want to take some blood to check your haemoglobin levels (you could be anaemic) and electrolyte levels (low potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium levels can cause arrhythmia). Your thyroid gland function may also be checked with the blood test.
The cardiologist may want to admit you for a test called Electrophysiology test (known as an EP test) this checks the hearts electrical pathways are all working correctly.
If it appears you do have a problem then it can be treated using various medications or procedures such as DC cardioversion (you are given an anaesthetic and the heart is electrically reprogrammed by sending an electrical charge a bit like jump starting a car battery). You could also be given a pacemaker or a similar device called an internal cardiac defibrillator (I.C.D) which would change the heart rhythm.
This is way down the line though, and sometimes just knowing that you are experiencing something very common can be reassuring. Try not to pay too much attention to your palitations and continue going to the gym and avoiding those hangovers!
You should het checked out for wolf parkinsons white syndrome where you have to much pusles to your heart. Its really dangerous and you cant play much sports or anything.
I like your Patriotism
I know that it is a man thing not to go to the doc`s, but with recent media coverage on male health subjects why not?
If I hadn`t done so 10 years ago I wouldn`t be here now. Get it checked out NOW.The answer may be less stressful than than the worrying about it, and at least you know where you stand.
Even if it turns out to be serious, immediate action could prevent years of suffering, or worse no years of no suffering.
A lifetime on medication is better than a funeral!!
Wolf Parkinsons White syndrome, or just palpitations. If it gets too bad they have to fit a pace maker. Some hospitals - like Queen Eliz., Birmingham, have heart specialists who specialize in the electric activities of the heart. How specialised can you get? You need to get it checked out.
Don't worry, I have had heart disease since birth and still live like a Viking. Keep getting Asbos for badly parking me boat tho.
Go get it checked.
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