Newswise — If your heart seems to skip a beat, are you headed for trouble?
Probably not, according to the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. In fact, that skipped beat was probably an early extra heartbeat. When it comes a little too soon, your heart waits a little longer before it beats again —--creating the sensation that your heart has stopped or skipped a beat.
Heart palpitations, like a so-called skipped beat, are common even among people with healthy hearts. Most don't require treatment.
For the heart to pump blood, the electrical timing of millions of heart cells must be highly coordinated. When this coordination is disrupted, it's called an arrhythmia and you feel it in the symptoms called palpitations -- a skipped beat, fluttering, pounding or other irregularity. Palpitations can also be caused by stress, anxiety, fear, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, vigorous exercise and some medical conditions.
While most palpitations are harmless, some warrant medical attention. The risk is highest in people who already have coronary artery disease, heart failure or other heart structure abnormalities. Make an appointment with your doctor if:
* Symptoms interfere with your daily activities or wake you up from sleep.
* Your palpitations have increased in severity or frequency.
* You have heart disease risk factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease.
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.
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