Suddenly I felt my heart skip a beat. Is it serious?

Heart-related problems

Most people have a panic mentality.

I usually feel a little weak

My heartbeat quickened for no reason, and my heart tightened.

I just want to ask you if you are afraid

Such anxiety is not groundless. After all, we often hear "negative news" about the heart. Every time the heart is mentioned, people are talking about sudden death. Who can bear it?

So, if you suddenly feel anxious or your heart skips a beat , should you be worried about these "heart-pounding moments"? Which symptoms indicate that you really need to be vigilant?

For healthy people, occasional heart palpitations , if there are no other discomforts, do not need to worry too much.

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This may be related to your temporary physical condition and does not directly indicate that there is a heart problem.

For example, factors such as excessive mental stress, overwork, drinking alcohol, drinking tea, drinking coffee, taking medicine, etc. may cause panic.

As long as you pay more attention to rest, the symptoms of palpitations can be relieved.

1. Repeated or persistent attacks of palpitations;

2. When panic attacks occur, they are accompanied by chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness and other symptoms;

3. The patient has heart disease or a family history of heart disease.

If you encounter this kind of situation, it means that the panic may be caused by certain diseases.

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For example, the heart diseases that people most easily think of include coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, myocarditis , etc.

Among them, arrhythmia is the most common cause of panic attacks.

It is best to go to the hospital in time to do an electrocardiogram, 24-hour dynamic electrocardiogram and cardiac ultrasound examination before making a judgment.

In addition to heart disease, factors such as thyroid disease, anemia, high blood pressure, and hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause in women may also cause palpitations.

In general, although the symptoms of panic are similar, the reasons why they occur in different people are different, so everyone should look at it based on their own situation.

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In addition to more serious panic, some people who died suddenly also had other symptoms before they died suddenly, such as:

Chest tightness and chest pain: This may be caused by the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques in the blood vessels of patients with coronary heart disease, forming blood clots, which in turn lead to myocardial infarction;

Profuse sweating: Fatigue, shortness of breath, and profuse sweating are all typical symptoms of sudden cardiac death;

Paroxysmal arm pain, soreness and discomfort: Some patients with myocardial infarction may not experience typical chest discomfort, but instead experience symptoms such as left arm pain, back pain, abdominal pain, toothache, etc.

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Sudden death does not have all the precursors as everyone imagines. Most of the time, it is a sudden cardiac arrest.

The purpose of a physical examination is to discover possible cardiovascular risks, but the sad thing is that no matter what examination you do, you cannot predict when the risks will break out.

The problem of sudden death is not like a time bomb, but more like a landmine buried on the road, which will suddenly explode if you step on it one day.

What we can do is to try not to bury this bomb, reduce the risk factors of sudden death in daily life, and avoid being a high-risk group for sudden death.

Starting from lifestyle and emotional management , the risk of sudden death can be effectively reduced:

● Stay up late less, increase rest time, and avoid excessive fatigue

● Eat less oil, less salt, and less sugar to maintain blood vessel health;

● Quit smoking and drinking. Studies have found that both are important factors that induce myocardial infarction;

● Maintain a healthy weight;

● Choose a reasonable exercise method, increase exercise duration appropriately, and enhance cardiopulmonary function;

● Learn to release stress and maintain a good attitude.

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When we adjust our bodies to a fully charged state, sudden death will not be so easy to come.

Even if we experience occasional symptoms of panic, we will have more confidence in our bodies.

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

Experts collaborating on this article

References

[1] Bie Haihao. Are chest tightness, chest pain, and palpitations coronary heart disease? [C]//Nanjing Rehabilitation Medicine Association. Proceedings of the Second National Rehabilitation and Clinical Pharmacy Academic Exchange Conference (IV). Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Nanyang Yuxi Jianhe Hospital;, 2022: 3. DOI: 10.26914/c.cnkihy.2022.080941.

[2] Xing Haoran, Zuo Huijuan, Gao Hai, et al. Research progress on epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of sudden death[J]. Chinese Journal of Circulation, 2023, 38(08): 891-894.

[3] Liu Jiahui, Qiao Gan, Ge Huimin, et al. Research progress on sudden cardiac death in young people[J]. Modern Distance Education of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2022, 20(24): 196-199.

Content Production

Editor: Zhang Fuyao

Map: Eastern Zhou Dynasty