115, High Rd., Loughton. Essex IG10 4HJ Tel: +44 (0) 208 508 7741,
WebMaster: Dr David H. Dighton
WebMaster: Dr David H. Dighton
Registered
6. 2. 2012
Learn about Your Heart
Palpitations
“My heart bumps, goes fast and sometimes seems to stop
Am I in trouble doctor?”
“My heart bumps, goes fast and sometimes seems to stop
Am I in trouble doctor?”
There are many causes of palpitation - extra beats , missed beats, fast heart
rhythms and even slow rhythms at times. They cause an uncomfortable feeling in
the chest or neck, especially on going to bed, after a meal, after strong coffee or
tea and very often in the setting of stress - waiting for a Court appearance,
seperation, divorce, bereavement, and winning the Lottery!
The headline fact about them is that they are only rarely serious. Very often they
are due to extra beats (extrasystoles). These are premature beats which may not
be felt. They are followed by a pause, which is often ‘felt’ and a heavy beat which
makes up for the small amount of blood pumped with the previous ‘extra’ beat.
Sometimes palpitation is caused by atrial fibrillation - an irregular, chaotic heart
beat caused by the top part of the heart (normally controls the regular beating)
going ‘out of sync’. This is a very important rhythm disturbance since it is often
associated with heart pathology, albeit, not always serious pathology in itself.
The electrical system of the heart consists of very delicate tissues like a spiders
web inside th heart. This becomes scarred with age - the commonest cause of
the problem. This is not dangerous but the heart tends to form internal clots because
it not longer beats regularly. These may be shaken loose and can travel to the lungs
(pulmonary embolism ) or brain to produce a stroke. We try to prevented these
at all costs by using some form of anticoagulation.
Diagnosis requires an ECG, a 24h ECG, an exercise test and an echocardiogram
to visualise the internal chambers and valve structures of the heart.
the chest or neck, especially on going to bed, after a meal, after strong coffee or
tea and very often in the setting of stress -
The headline fact about them is that they are only rarely serious. Very often they
are due to extra beats (extrasystoles). These are premature beats which may not
be felt. They are followed by a pause, which is often ‘felt’ and a heavy beat which
makes up for the small amount of blood pumped with the previous ‘extra’ beat.
Sometimes palpitation is caused by atrial fibrillation -
going ‘out of sync’. This is a very important rhythm disturbance since it is often
associated with heart pathology, albeit, not always serious pathology in itself.
The electrical system of the heart consists of very delicate tissues like a spiders
web inside th heart. This becomes scarred with age -
it not longer beats regularly. These may be shaken loose and can travel to the lungs
(pulmonary embolism ) or brain to produce a stroke. We try to prevented these
at all costs by using some form of anticoagulation.
Diagnosis requires an ECG, a 24h ECG, an exercise test and an echocardiogram
to visualise the internal chambers and valve structures of the heart.
HEART-LINE - FOR HEART TROUBLE - CALL US ANYTIME
0208 508 7741
0208 508 7741
Heart Trouble HelpLine : 0208 508 7741