palpitation

palpitation /pal·pi·ta·tion/ (pal″pĭ-ta´shun) a subjective sensation of an unduly rapid or irregular heartbeat.

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pal·pi·ta·tion (plp-tshn)

n.

Perceptible forcible pulsation of the heart, usually with an increase in frequency or force, with or without irregularity in rhythm.

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Palpitation

Rapid, forceful, throbbing, or fluttering heartbeat.

Mentioned in: Alpha 1 -Adrenergic Blockers, Antiarrhythmic Drugs, Caffeine

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palpitation

[pal′pitā′shən]

Etymology: L, palpitare, to flutter

a pounding or racing of the heart. It is associated with normal emotional responses and with heart disorders. Some people may complain of pounding heart and display no evidence of heart disease, whereas others with serious heart disorders may not detect associated abnormal palpitations. Some patients complain of palpitations after receiving digitalis because it increases the force of heart contractions. palpitate, v.

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palpitation [pal″pĭ-ta´shun]

a heartbeat that is unusually rapid, strong, or irregular enough to make a person aware of it, usually over 120 beats per minute, as opposed to the normal 60 to 100 per minute. In most cases, it is the result of excitement, nervousness, strong exertion, or taking of certain medications (including caffeine and nicotine). There are also palpitations that result from heart disorders such as paroxysmal tachycardia, flutter, abnormal rhythms in which the heart has runs of rapid beats, and atrial fibrillation (in which the beats are rapid but irregular or seemingly random).

Palpitations may be caused by organic heart disease, but they also can result from other factors. Similarly, emotional pressures rather than organic changes may cause the so-called “nervous heart,” or functional heart disease.

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palpitation (palpitā´shn),

n an unduly rapid action of the heart that is perceptible to the patient.

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palpitation

Cardiology A generally unpleasant subjective sensation of strong and/or irregular heart pulsations, often accompanying ↑ physical exertion Sx & clinical correlates Flip-flopping sensation, the heart seems to stop, then start with pounding–s/o premature atrial or ventricular contractions; fluttering sensation–s/o atrial or ventricular arrhythmias; pounding in neck–s/o AV dissociation–atria are contracting against closed tricuspid or mitral valves, as in reentrant supraventicular arrhythmias, especially AV nodal tachycardia or ventricular premature depolarization, producing cannon A waves in jugular veins with neck pulsations which, if prominent, cause a bulging–'frog sign' Etiology Anxiety, panic disorders, catecholamine excess–eg, in cool-down period after exercise, postural changes–eg, standing abruptly after recumbent position–causing syncope/near syncope Diagnosis Hix, physical exam, 12-lead EKG, Holter monitor Management Reassurance, beta-blockers, CCBs, radio-frequency ablation, modification of sinus node