Heart flutters are irregular beatings of the heart that make your ticker feel exactly just like that — fluttering. The good news is heart flutters are most of the time benign, which means that they are perfectly normal occurrences and won’t endanger your health and life. However, there are instances, too, in which it can be something serious.
Experiencing your heart fluttering one in a while is fine. But it is a different story if it’s something that takes place more than 30 times per hour, according to heart specialists. This is especially true if heart flutters are accompanied by symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, profuse sweating, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
However, there are also times when weird sensations in the chest go together with heart flutters but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the heart. For instance, such can strike whenever you are having an anxiety or panic attack.
Especially if you are experiencing heart flutters on a regular basis and it comes with symptoms mentioned earlier, it’s definitely a good idea for you to consult a cardiologist, a doctor who is specializing in diagnosing and treating conditions concerning the heart. In some cases, heart flutters can be a sign of much bigger problems. Some of them are diabetes, thyroid issues, high blood pressure, mitral valve prolapse and coronary artery disease.
Doing some dietary and lifestyle changes may be the solution to your heart flutters if your cardiologist gave you a clean bill of health, which means that he or she found nothing wrong with your ticker after performing several tests. Here are some of the things that you may do to put an end to heart flutters or keep them from striking in the first place:
Cold Water
There are a couple of ways you can employ cold water to get rid of heart flutters. First, you can have a tall glass of it. Second, you can splash it on your face. Some people swear by the effectiveness of taking a cold shower in putting an end to their bout of heart flutters.
Slow, Deep Breaths
Heart flutters are brought about by stress and anxiety most of the time. One of the quickest ways to lower both stress and anxiety levels is by taking slow and deep breaths. It supplies the body with good amounts of oxygen, while helping to slow down the heart rate and ultimately getting rid of those annoying flutters.
Valsalva Maneuver
That bearing down you do when seated on the toilet is called valsalva maneuver in the world of medicine. It’s something that you may perform when you are experiencing heart flutters — pinch your nose and try to exhale through it. However, it is not a good idea for the elderly and those with heart problems to do it.
Forced Coughs
Another step that you may take each time you are encountering heart flutters is coughing deeply. Doing so causes changes in the pressure in your chest, which can regulate the rhythm of the heart. The minute those heart flutters appear, force yourself to cough for immediate relief.
Chamomile Tea
Regularly suffering from anxiety attacks which leave you with heart flutters? Make it a habit to drink chamomile tea. This herbal beverage is very good at relaxing both your body and mind. By keeping anxiety at bay, there should be no reason for those pesky heart flutters to bug you.
Lavender
You may also have a cup of lavender tea every not and then to keep at bay those anxiety attacks and heart flutters. Many people who suffer from anxiety also rely on lavender essential oil. They fill the air with its scent using a humidifier, or they add a few drops of it to their bathwater for utmost relaxation.
A Healthy Diet
Making sure that your everyday meals are well-balanced can help keep at bay those heart flutters. See to it that you eat foods that supply the body with heart-friendly nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and vitamins C, D and E. Staying away from fatty and salty foods as well as caffeine can also help a lot.
