Heart flutters are not always magical. A heart beating too fast or skipping a beat in medical terms is known as palpitation. Heart palpitations are noticeable in the chest, neck, or even the throat. They are common, usually not harmful, and resolve easily on their own. Many reasons are linked to heart palpitations, anxiety, stress, tobacco smoking, and even after eating.
Rarely does heart palpitation mean anything related to the heart. However, if it is accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, excessive sweating, and chest pain, get medical help immediately. In this blog, we have discussed one of the very common reasons, eating pattern that leads to palpitation.
Why Do I Get Heart Palpitations After Eating?
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There are many things after eating of which heart palpitations occur. Some of the dietary-related triggers are:
- Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia
- Dehydration
- Alcohol Consumption
- Food Allergies
- Sodium and Potassium Level
- Caffeine
Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is the low content of sugars in the blood. Eating high levels of processed sugar or large portions of carbohydrates, you will feel bloating and heart palpitations.
Having an adequate intake of water is essential; dehydration often leads to palpitations.
Alcohol consumption is hazardous to health, according to recent research its intake along with atrial fibrillation, can cause heart palpitations. If you are a chronic heavy drinker, then a reduction in amount can benefit you significantly.
Steer clear of food allergies since it will cause not only flutter, but there is a risk of anaphylactic shock involved too.
High sodium levels and low potassium both affect the heart’s beating. Canned processed foods are most likely to spike sodium levels in the blood.
If functioning without your morning coffee is a task, your heart palpitation issue is most likely due to excessive caffeine intake. Having one or two cups of coffee is not a big deal and would not interfere with your bodily functions. However, a significant excess will lead to trouble. Caffeine is not only a stimulant but also has a diuretic effect. Diuretics increase urination frequency leading to dehydration in the body.
Other reasons for Palpitations:
Significant hormonal changes also cause palpitations. Especially if we talk about women, severe hormonal changes happen throughout their lives. Be it menopause or pregnancy; every phase takes a toll on the heart rate.
Treatment for Heart Palpitations
It is important to target the root cause for effective treatment. First course of treatment is making lifestyle changes, monitoring eating habits so that there is no heart palpitations after it.
Maintenance of a food diary can help catch what triggers are causing this problem. Avoiding those would most probably help reverse the issue. Decreasing intake of caffeinated beverages and cessation of smoke can work well.
If the heart palpitation issue is taking a serious hike, then the doctor may prescribe anti-arrhythmic beta blockers to keep your heart rate in control. Rarely do they pose issues and act as life-threatening symptoms. But if they do, a pacemaker or defibrillator is used to bring the rate to be normal.
Conclusion
Heart flutter can be nothing or anything dangerous related to the heart. It is best to monitor your condition closely and reach out to Epic Heart & Vascular Center if the situation seems out of control. Call at (832) 952-1951 Willowbrook and 832-432-1951 Houston