It can occur as a result of many acute and chronic conditions.
Factors such as age, health conditions, and physical fitness can also affect how fast your heart beats.
After you stop exercising, your heart rate should gradually return to normal.
JulPo / Getty Images
Dehydration
Dehydration shows up when you lose more water than you consume.
The electrolyte imbalance with dehydration can also cause a rapid heart rate.
An electrolyte deficiency can disrupt the electrical signal, resulting in an irregular or rapid heartbeat.
To calm a slow heartbeat due to dehydration, do the following:
3.
Emotions and Stress
Emotions andstresscan contribute to changes in the rate at which your heart beats.
This reaction, triggered by yoursympathetic nervous system, is called the fight-or-flight response.
The change in hormones can accelerate your breathing, dilate your pupils, and increase your heart rate.
you’re free to counter a fast heartbeat triggered by stress with the following steps.
Take deep breaths in a 4-by-4 or box pattern:
Try the followingvagal maneuvers:
4.
Stimulants and Medications
Many classes of drugs can trigger or worsen a rapid heartbeat.
Contact your healthcare provider for instructions if you have a rapid heartbeat after taking any jot down of drug.
Other strategies can include modifying the risk factors for a fast heart rate when taking the drug.
This means it has to work harder and faster to accomplish the task.
Moving to a cooler, air-conditioned environment can help reduce the stress on your heart.
Limiting your exposure to pollutants when air quality is low can help reduce these effects.
Research indicates that women experience an increase in heart rate when sleeping during this period in the menstrual cycle.
Fever
It is common for your heart to beat faster when you have afever.
A fever is often a sign of aninfection.
Your heart rate increases as your heart pumps harder to deliver immune cells and oxygen throughout your body.
Having a fever also increases your risk of dehydration, another cause of a rapid heartbeat.
Hypoglycemia triggers the release of the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) in your body.
These hormones work to raise your blood sugar levels to compensate for the decreased levels.
If you havediabetes, verify you know how totreat the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Your healthcare provider can instruct you on how to avert severe symptoms.
Atrial fibrillation is highly linked with bothobstructive sleep apneaandcentral sleep apnea.
A normal heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm).
However, it’s possible to have a normal heart rate below or above those numbers.
Your healthcare provider can help you determine whether your normal heart rate is a cause for concern.
To check your heart rate, do so after sitting in a comfortable position for at least 5 minutes.
To determine your maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220. you might calculate your target heart rate based on your maximum heart rate.
Your target rate is the level at which your heart beats with moderate to high intensity.
It represents the minimum number of heartbeats in a given amount of time needed to reach cardiovascular fitness.
The target heart rate for most people is 50% to 85% of their maximum heart rate.
Learn when tachycardia may be a sign of a medical problem and when you may need emergency care.
Contact your healthcare provider if you are having a rapid heartbeat that persists.
American Heart Association.Tachycardia: fast heart rate.
2022;10(4):4295-303. doi:10.16965/ijpr.2022.129
Lewis III JL.Overview of electrolytes.
InMerck Manual Consumer Version.
Merck & Co., Inc. 2023.
Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials.How supplements affect heart palpitations.
Aether Health.Can dehydration cause heart palpitations?
Understanding the link between hydration and heart health.
Society of Behavioral Medicine.How stress affects your heart.
Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials.How to stop your heart palpitations at home.
2020;142(15).
doi:10.1161/CIR.000000000000090
Temple Health.Can hot weather affect your heart?
British Heart Foundation.Air pollution.
University of Utah Health.Why is my heart beating so fast?
Endocrine Society.Menopause signs and symptoms.
2022;14:491-503. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S341917
Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.Hyperthyroidism and your heart.
Banner Health.Why your heart rate goes up when you’re sick.
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Physical changes during pregnancy.
Hackensack Meridian Health.6 reasons your heart rate is high.
Memorial Healthcare System.Sleep apnea and Afib.
American Heart Association.Illicit drugs, high alcohol consumption both linked to first-time irregular heart rhythm.
Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials.What’s a normal heart rate?
And what your heart rate is telling you.
Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.Want to check your heart rate?
Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.All about your heart rate.
Iowa Health Care.Target heart rate for exercise.
American Heart Association (AHA).Target heart rates chart.
