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What Causes Persistent Heart Palpitations?
Question: I have been experiencing periods of flutter or rapid heart beat. It is intermittent and I have no difficulty with any exercise I try like playing golf. It frequently occurs after eating something or when I am hungry. I have had a heart monitor on and nothing was found
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern, and would like to explain that if you have experienced the feeling of flutter or rapid heart beats while on Holter monitoring (which resulted without any arrhythmic events), then a cardiac issue responsible for that complain is excluded.
From the other side, as in such case the palpitations feeling seems to be just an exaggerated perception of the normal sinus rhythm,, other causes should be explored step by step.
A gastrointestinal issue, such as gastro-esophageal reflux or hiatal hernia should be sought. A gastroenterologist consultation would be necessary; and if suspicions are raised a fibrogastroscopy would be helpful to clarify this issue.
Some lab tests like:
- complete blood count (to exclude anemia),
- thyroid function tests (for a possible thyroid dysfunction),
- blood electrolytes,
- fasting glucose, etc.
would investigate other potential responsible causes.
At the end, if the above tests result normal, even anxiety may have possible implications in such a cardiac expression through intermittent palpitations. A better addressing of this issue would subsequently control palpitations occurrence.
You need to discuss with your attending physician about the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern, and would like to explain that if you have experienced the feeling of flutter or rapid heart beats while on Holter monitoring (which resulted without any arrhythmic events), then a cardiac issue responsible for that complain is excluded.
From the other side, as in such case the palpitations feeling seems to be just an exaggerated perception of the normal sinus rhythm,, other causes should be explored step by step.
A gastrointestinal issue, such as gastro-esophageal reflux or hiatal hernia should be sought. A gastroenterologist consultation would be necessary; and if suspicions are raised a fibrogastroscopy would be helpful to clarify this issue.
Some lab tests like:
- complete blood count (to exclude anemia),
- thyroid function tests (for a possible thyroid dysfunction),
- blood electrolytes,
- fasting glucose, etc.
would investigate other potential responsible causes.
At the end, if the above tests result normal, even anxiety may have possible implications in such a cardiac expression through intermittent palpitations. A better addressing of this issue would subsequently control palpitations occurrence.
You need to discuss with your attending physician about the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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