Recognize harmless palpitations
Lisa Vogel studied departmental journalism with a focus on medicine and biosciences at Ansbach University and deepened her journalistic knowledge in the master's degree in multimedia information and communication. This was followed by a traineeship in the editorial team. Since September 2020 she has been writing as a freelance journalist for
More posts by Lisa Vogel All content is checked by medical journalists.The heart suddenly beats up to the neck, it races and sweat breaks out: something like this is threatening, but does not always have to be a sign of an illness. When is the racing heart dangerous and when not? A simple trick often brings clarity.
Excitement and physical exertion make the heart beat violently - a perfectly normal reaction. But when palpitations appear out of nowhere, it feels threatening to those affected. Dizziness, shortness of breath, and nausea can accompany the attack.
Threatening, but not dangerous?
"Even if a sudden racing heart feels very threatening, the attacks do not have to be automatically dangerous," says cardiologist Prof. Paulus Kirchhof from the German Heart Foundation.
An adult's heart beats about 60 to 75 times every minute. When the heart is racing, the heart rate increases to over 140 beats per minute. Usually the sinus node in the right atrium forms a fairly steady electrical signal that makes the entire heart muscle beat. If the electrical signals are suddenly fired too quickly, the heart begins to race.
Cold water gets the heart back on track
A trick shows whether the racing heart is dangerous or benign: If you drink a glass of cold mineral water quickly, you can bring the heart back into its normal rhythm - but this only works with rather harmless forms of the racing heart. The cold water and the subsequent belching irritate the vagus nerve. Its increased activity slows the sinus node, the heart rate then normalizes just as suddenly as it got off the rails.
Another experiment is based on this principle: A light pressure of the fingertips on the neck below the mandibular joint stimulates pressure-sensitive sensors in the carotid artery at the so-called carotid sinus. These report: "Blood pressure is sufficient, the heart is allowed to work less!" Here, too, the vagus nerve is the messenger that slows down the sinus node in the heart again.
Frequent palpitations are a warning sign
If the heart palpitations occur frequently, a visit to the doctor is mandatory. Serious illnesses can also trigger severe palpitations. The coronary artery disease or diseases of the heart muscle or the heart valves can be behind it. If there is also chest pain, it is a medical emergency.
Healthy Heart Lifestyle
Around 1.8 million people in Germany suffer from palpitations. A healthy diet, regular exercise and the avoidance of alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine protect the heart. The risk of heart diseases such as atrial fibrillation, heart attacks or coronary artery disease decreases with a healthy lifestyle.
Tags: Diagnosis nourishment medicinal herbal home remedies
