Palpitations

Peachstate Advanced Cardiac & Endovascular

Board Certified Interventional Cardiologist & Vascular Specialist located throughout Georgia.

While heart palpitations can happen to anybody, they’re also often one of the first signs of an underlying heart condition. At Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular (PACE) located throughout Georgia, board-certified interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist, Oghenerukevwe Odiete, MD, FACC, has the experience and state-of-the-art technology to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of heart palpitations. To learn more, contact the office today.

Palpitations Q & A

What are heart palpitations?

If your heart feels like it’s pounding or beating too fast, you may be experiencing palpitations. Many people feel palpitations in their chest, neck, and throat as well. While you can have palpitations when you’re nervous, excited, or anxious, recurrent or elongated episodes are often signs of an underlying condition.

What causes heart palpitations?

Heart palpitations are typically harmless and caused by:

Stress
Excitement
Adrenaline rush
Anxiety
Exercise
Fear
Hormonal changes, such as menopause
Caffeine
Alcohol
Nicotine

In some cases, however, palpitations are a symptom of a more serious condition, such as arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, or even a heart attack.

How is the cause of heart palpitations diagnosed?

Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular (PACE) has several diagnostic tools to determine the cause of your heart palpitations. Dr. Odiete may recommend one or more of the following.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Chest X-ray
Echocardiogram
Event recording
Holter monitoring

A Holter monitoring device is a portable unit that tracks and records your heart activity over the course of 24 to 48 hours as you go about your daily activities.

In addition to the above diagnostic tests, Dr. Odiete performs a full physical exam to rule out certain conditions. He also reviews your medical and family history to better determine the cause of your palpitations.

How are heart palpitations treated?

The first step in treating heart palpitations is determining what’s causing them. If you’re drinking too much caffeine, limiting your intake can significantly reduce your heart palpitations. Reducing stress and anxiety-inducing situations can also help keep your heart palpitations under control.

If you have atrial fibrillation (AFib), the upper chambers of your heart beat irregularly, which puts you at risk of blood clots and stroke. To reduce your risk of serious AFib complications, Dr. Odiete may recommend medications, such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or blood thinners.

For cardiac arrhythmia — an irregular heartbeat — calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers can also reduce your chances of serious complications. Other treatments include radiofrequency ablation and pacemaker devices in some cases.

If you’re ready to get your heart palpitations under control, contact Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular (PACE).

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