Heart palpitations during exercise are not very common, but at the same time it is not something you have to worry about either. Usually they are not considered serious, but you really need to get yourself checked if it is accompanied by some unusual sweating or some new symptoms. Find in detail about the same in this article.
Heart palpitations are heartbeat sensations you suddenly become aware of, since they tend to race faster, or you may feel like you skipped a beat, in short, it is not a normal feeling and it is justified if you freak out at its occurrence. Generally, a normal heart rate is 70-100 times per minute. But, in some cases, heart rate is more than 100 beats per minute, called tachycardia (occurs only when you are not keeping well or performing any kind of strenuous activity) and in some other cases, the heart rate drops down, lesser than 60 beats per minute, called bradycardia (usually noticed in athletes and amongst those, who are exposed to colder climate).
And then there is a case where you experience an occasional extra heartbeat, which seems like you missed a beat or a situation where your heart is racing or pounding, called ectopic beat. Now, palpitations is not something you have to worry about, unless it is accompanied by some usual new symptoms.
Causes of Palpitations During Exercise
Palpitations rarely occur during exercise, you mostly experience it after the activity. They are caused due to panic, anxiety, fear or if you put yourself through some strenuous activity. Now, when we exercise, our heart has to work at a faster pace than usual. We put our bodies through a series of tough workouts, therefore the heart has to pump blood at a faster rate to all the parts of our body and specially the working muscles. During this time, everyone experiences palpitations or skipped heartbeats. The frequency and the rate at which these occur can differ from person to person. Although this phenomenon is sure to startle you, there is nothing serious or harmful about it. It is just another way of warning you that, you are pushing your body way to far and that you have to slow down now.
Ways to Prevent Palpitations
Palpitations during exercise is a warning, asking you to probably lessen the intensity of your workouts. Another way of preventing the occurrence of palpitation is hydrating yourself every now and then during your workout sessions. This helps your body restore the amounts of fluids it has lost while exercising via sweat. Always keep a bottle of water around and keep sipping some water during your workout sessions. Eliminate the intake of caffeine or nicotine an hour or two before you start exercising, as they contribute majorly to the irregular heartbeat pattern. You can also identify the various activities that trigger the occurrence of palpitations and modify the activity or rather stop doing it at once.
Ask Your Doctor
If palpitations are accompanied by pain, breathlessness, dizziness or you just pass out during the course, you definitely ought to see a doctor. Sometimes, your blood cholesterol levels shoot up, making it difficult for the arteries to pump blood at a faster rate, hence causing palpitations. Therefore, it is important to get your blood pressure and blood rhythm checked. If the reports are normal and do not show any abnormal heart rhythm, then there is absolutely nothing to worry about, just follow a few self-help ways are given above to prevent its recurrence. In case the doctor finds any abnormality in the heartbeat pattern, he will ask you to go through a series of other tests to confirm the exact cause. Once the problem is diagnosed, it becomes easier for the doctor to treat the condition.
The treatments would include various medications, therapies and surgery, if necessary. But, before you zero down to a particular treatment, it is better to ask for a second opinion. Take care.
