Natural Ways To Stop Heart Palpitations

Natural Ways To Stop Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations can cause a sensation of a pounding heart or a racing pulse. Palpitations can also feel like a fluttering feeling in the chest or like the heart has skipped a beat. While medical attention may be necessary, some home remedies can help to stop palpitations.

Lifestyle factors can cause heart palpitations. Less frequently, an underlying medical condition is responsible. Palpitations can result from the following conditions, and they require a doctor’s care:

  1. thyroid problems
  2. abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias
  3. atrial fibrillation
  4. heart failure, in rare cases

Home Remedies To Relieve Heart Palpitations

The following methods can help to reduce palpitations.

1. Perform Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation, may help to reduce palpitations.
Stress can have many ill effects on a person’s health. It can induce palpitations or make them worse.

It may help to try the following relaxation techniques:

  1. meditation
  2. deep breathing
  3. journaling
  4. yoga
  5. spending time outdoors
  6. exercising
  7. taking short breaks from work or school
  8. using a method of guided imagery, these are available to purchase online

2. Reduce Or Eliminate Stimulant Intake

Symptoms may become noticeable after using a stimulant.

The following contains stimulants:

  1. tobacco products
  2. illegal drugs
  3. some cold and cough medications
  4. caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda
  5. appetite suppressants
  6. marijuana
  7. some mental health drugs
  8. some high blood pressure medications

Not all stimulants will cause palpitations in everyone.

3. Stimulate The Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve connects the brain to the heart and stimulating it can help to calm palpitations. A person can do so by:

  1. holding the breath and pushing down, as if making a bowel movement
  2. coughing
  3. placing ice or a cold, damp towel on the face for a few seconds
  4. gagging
  5. splashing cold water on the face
  6. chanting “Om”
  7. taking a cold shower

Before trying this method consult a doctor, who can advise on the best technique.

4. Keep Electrolytes Balanced

Avocados and bananas are high in potassium.
Electrolytes are molecules found throughout the body that help to transfer electrical signals. These signals play a significant role in regulating the heart rate.

A person can boost the number of electrolytes in their body by eating foods rich in:

  1. sodium
  2. potassium
  3. calcium
  4. magnesium
  5. A normal diet usually provides a sufficient source of sodium.
  6. The following foods have high potassium contents:
  7. potatoes
  8. bananas
  9. avocados
  10. spinach

Dairy products and dark, leafy greens are rich in calcium. Magnesium is also found in these vegetables, as well as in nuts and fish.

It may be tempting to attain these nutrients by taking supplements. A person should consult a doctor before trying any supplements, particularly if they are also taking prescription medication.

5. Keep Hydrated

When the body is dehydrated, the heart has to work harder to circulate blood, which can cause heart palpitations.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day. The recommended amount will vary, depending on age, sex, and whether a person is pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTrusted Source (CDC).

A person should drink a full cup or glass of water when:

  1. their urine is dark
  2. their heart rate increases
  3. they have dry mouth
  4. they feel thirsty
  5. they have a headache
  6. they feel dizzy
  7. the skin is dry or pruny

6. Avoid Excessive Alcohol Use

Alcohol is a depressant and does not typically raise the heart rate.

While drinking in moderation is not necessarily problematic, some research indicates that even one drink per day can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. A palpitating heart is just one symptom of this condition.

7. Exercise Regularly

Walking can help to strengthen the heart and reduce palpitations.
Exercise can improve overall cardiovascular health and restore the heart’s natural rhythm. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety.

Cardiovascular exercise helps to strengthen the heart, which can prevent or reduce palpitations.

Beneficial exercises include:

  1. walking
  2. jogging
  3. running
  4. biking
  5. swimming

However, exercise may trigger palpitations in some people, and it is important to identify and avoid problematic exercises.

Consult a doctor before starting a new exercise routine.

When To See A Doctor

See a doctor if heart palpitations tend to last longer than a few seconds.

A doctor can determine whether an underlying condition is causing the palpitations.

These conditions commonly include:

  1. heart disease
  2. thyroid issues
  3. anxiety
  4. heart failure
  5. heart valve disease
  6. Other causes of heart palpitations include:
  7. exercise
  8. stress
  9. dehydration
  10. illness
  11. some medications
  12. illegal drug use
  13. pregnancy
  14. caffeine
  15. tobacco use
  16. excessive alcohol intake

Some prescription medications can cause heart palpitations. Also, a person who has had a heart attack may be more likely to develop palpitations.

Treatment will depend on the cause. A doctor may recommend the following:

  1. surgery
  2. medications
  3. a pacemaker
  4. changing medications that may be causing palpitations.

Takeaway

Heart palpitations are common, and they often last for a few seconds. The tips listed above can help to stop palpitations and reduce their occurrence.

Speak to a doctor if the sensation lasts for longer than a few seconds. This may indicate an underlying condition that requires treatment.

Sources:

  1. Get the facts: Drinking water and intake. (2017, May 12)
    https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/plain-water-the-healthier-choice.html
  2. Kienzle, M. G., & Guidici, M. C. (n.d.). Heart palpitations: Frequently asked questions
    https://uihc.org/health-library/heart-palpitations-frequently-asked-questions
  3. Larsson, S. C., Drca, N., & Wolk, A. (2014, July). Alcohol consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation: A prospective study and dose-response meta-analysis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 64(3), 281–289
    http://www.onlinejacc.org/content/64/3/281
  4. Staying hydrated – staying healthy. (2015, June 25)
    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/FitnessBasics/Staying-Hydrated—Staying-Healthy_UCM_441180_Article.jsp#.WK9yGxIrKlM

Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.medicalnewstoday.com by Jenna Fletcher where all credits are due. Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R.N.
Disclaimer

The watching, interacting, and participation of any kind with anything on this page does not constitute or initiate a doctor-patient relationship with Dr. Farrah®. None of the statements here have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products of Dr. Farrah® are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information being provided should only be considered for education and entertainment purposes only. If you feel that anything you see or hear may be of value to you on this page or on any other medium of any kind associated with, showing, or quoting anything relating to Dr. Farrah® in any way at any time, you are encouraged to and agree to consult with a licensed healthcare professional in your area to discuss it. If you feel that you’re having a healthcare emergency, seek medical attention immediately. The views expressed here are simply either the views and opinions of Dr. Farrah® or others appearing and are protected under the first amendment.

Dr. Farrah® is a highly experienced Licensed Medical Doctor certified in evidence-based clinical nutrition, not some enthusiast, formulator, or medium promoting the wild and unrestrained use of nutrition products for health issues without clinical experience and scientific evidence of therapeutic benefit. Dr. Farrah® has personally and keenly studied everything she recommends, and more importantly, she’s closely observed the reactions and results in a clinical setting countless times over the course of her career involving the treatment of over 150,000 patients.

Dr. Farrah® promotes evidence-based natural approaches to health, which means integrating her individual scientific and clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. By individual clinical expertise, I refer to the proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice.

Dr. Farrah® does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of any multimedia content provided. Dr. Farrah® does not warrant the performance, effectiveness, or applicability of any sites listed, linked, or referenced to, in, or by any multimedia content.

To be clear, the multimedia content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen in any website, video, image, or media of any kind.
Dr. Farrah® hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is, and without warranties.

Back to blog