What Causes Palpitations and Heartache?

Occasionally, some people may experience palpitations in their daily lives. There are various reasons for palpitations and heartache, including physiological palpitations, hypertension-induced heart disease, hyperthyroidism, anemia with fever, hypoglycemia, and other diseases. Additionally, improper diet can also lead to this symptom. It is recommended to identify the specific cause of palpitations before seeking targeted treatment.

1. Organic Heart Disease: Conditions such as hypertensive heart disease, aortic insufficiency, and mitral insufficiency can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy, increased cardiac contractility, and increased cardiac load, resulting in palpitations.

2. Arrhythmia: Under normal conditions, a person's heart rate should be 60-80 beats per minute with a regular heartbeat. However, certain diseases can cause irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmia. Both tachycardia and bradycardia, as well as atrial flutter or fibrillation, can cause a sensation of palpitations.

3. Hyperthyroidism and Anemia: Hyperthyroidism can lead to palpitations due to increased basal metabolism and sympathetic nervous system excitement. Anemia occurs when the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity decreases, leading to ischemia and hypoxia in organ tissues. To compensate, the heart rate increases to meet the demand for blood and oxygen, resulting in palpitations. Body fever can also increase the basal metabolism rate and heart rate, causing palpitations.

4. Hypoglycemia and Pheochromocytoma: These conditions can lead to increased adrenaline release, stimulating the heart to accelerate and cause palpitations. Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system can also cause palpitations, which is more common in young women, although there is no organic lesion in the heart itself.

Occasional palpitations are usually caused by physiological factors and do not require excessive concern. Everyone experiences physiological palpitations in their lifetime, such as the feeling of panic and accelerated heartbeat when caught doing something wrong as a child. However, if palpitations occur frequently or significantly affect one's quality of life, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and undergo relevant examinations such as electrocardiogram and echocardiography to determine if they are caused by heart disease or other organ system diseases. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential.