Does your heart pound at rest or after a meal? What can it mean?

The heart is the most important muscle in our body. We don't usually notice its activity. We only feel the work it does when we are active or under mental stress.

This is its normal response to the greater demands on the body in a given situation. However, if we begin to feel any discomfort, including unnatural activity of the heart, in complete rest, this will cause concern.

The severity depends on the actual cause of such a reaction. It may be a malfunction of the heart itself, of another organ, but also the influence of other factors.

So if your heart is beating even at rest, it is necessary to search for the cause. It often points to a serious disorder as well as a disease.

The sensation of palpitations is often unpleasant, irregular or associated with dizziness, trembling and weakness.

An unpleasant, rapid heartbeat is known professionally as palpitations. A rapid heartbeat is called tachycardia . Read more about rhythm disorders in the article.

Interesting fact:

The trained heart in athletes is more resistant and the heart contracts more efficiently. The pulse can be below 60 per minute at rest in active sports people.

Read our magazine article.

In the next section of the article, see:
Possible causes of palpitations.
Effect of pace of life.
Hormonal changes.
Does your heart pound after eating?
When to see a doctor and treat palpitations.

Possible causes of palpitations in the table.

Drugs that cause palpitations include methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy. Medications include tricyclic antidepressants, digoxin and catecholamines.

The pace of life and our hearts

The fast pace of life often requires a high workload. The consequence is fatigue, exhaustion and stress. Many people reach for stimulants such as caffeine, which is found in coffee.

It has a stimulating effect on the body. It has a stimulating effect on the heart and therefore promotes its activity.

Energy drinks have a similar effect on the cardiovascular system. When consumed, the pressure and pulse rate rise. Caution is advisable, especially for people suffering from high blood pressure, who should avoid these products altogether.

Energy drinks have an effect on almost every organ system in the body. Read about this and other interesting information in our magazine article: Energy drinks and their effect on health. Which one is best?

This substance is chemically identical in composition to caffeine. They are actually identical substances.

The difference lies in the onset of action. In coffee, the caffeine is released quickly on contact with stomach acid. Thus the onset of action is both more pronounced and faster.

In tea, the theine is bound to other substances. Therefore, its effect is milder and delayed.

With the excessive use of such substances there may arise difficulties such as perspiration, restlessness, uneasiness, and of course unpleasant palpitation of the heart.

Alcohol or nicotine contained in cigarettes also causes rapid heartbeat.

The heart and life under the heart

Heart palpitations occur frequently in pregnancy. Even in vigorous and physically fit women, rapid heart activity associated with palpitations can occur with little exertion.

It is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. The reason for this is the increased demands of the body, which the body tries to compensate for with increased heart activity.

Not only about them you can read in the article.

Thyroid disorder

The thyroid gland is an organ located at the front of the neck. It produces hormones that affect a number of processes in the body.

Its disorder, when increased hormone production occurs, is often manifested precisely by rapid heartbeat and other rhythm disturbances.

When the thyroid gland is under-functioning and the production of hormones is reduced, slower heartbeat can occur.

Learn more about the thyroid gland in the article.

Low blood sugar

A reduced blood sugar concentration is technically called hypoglycaemia. It mainly affects diabetics (diabetic patients). It mainly involves patients on insulin treatment. However, it can also occur in people who do not suffer from diabetes.

The first symptoms of low sugar include feeling hungry, nervousness, irritability, sweating and palpitations.

Low sugar levels in people without diabetes can also be caused by:

• Medicines and alcohol
• Pregnancy
• sepsis with multi-organ failure
• critical cardiac hepatic and renal disease
• liver disease

Also read the article Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar. What are its symptoms and complications?

Anemia

Anaemia (anaemia) is one of the diseases where the heart has to compensate for certain deficiencies. In anaemia, the lack of important components of the blood is manifested by the heart's effort to produce more output.

Therefore, one of the symptoms is rapid heart activity, during which the patient may experience palpitations. The symptoms depend on the speed of the anaemia and the compensatory capacity of the body.

You can read more about anaemia in the article.

Heart palpitations after eating

After a meal, blood moves to the areas of the body and organs where it is needed. The muscles are bled. The digestive system is in turn blooded more than usual.

The blood carries digested food residues, such as sugars, fats and proteins, to the places where they are needed.

Difficulties can occur especially after a hearty meal, when not only the muscles but also the heart itself are exposed. People with cardiovascular problems or high blood pressure may experience this condition through weakness, dizziness and rapid heartbeat.

Heart palpitations after eating can therefore suggest a possible disorder, a budding disease, but also poor fitness, vitality or obesity.

You may also be interested in our magazine article, What is the difference between overweight and obesity?

When the heart itself is the cause of the palpitations

The heart itself and its rhythm can be the cause of the unpleasant feeling of palpitations.

These can be arrhythmias where the heart's action is fast, slow or even completely chaotic. The severity depends on how the heart retains its function of pumping blood throughout the body in this condition.

With some arrhythmias, people live longer without much difficulty, while others pose an immediate threat to life.

A brief breakdown of rhythm disorders in the table below

In ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, the heart is unable to pump blood fully. It is therefore a circulatory arrest, loss of consciousness and an immediate threat to life.

When to see a doctor

A fast or slow heartbeat is an unpleasant sensation that naturally causes concern. Many times it goes away, other times the trouble persists for a longer period of time.

You should especially contact a doctor if you experience chest pain, dizziness, nausea or vomiting at the same time.

The doctor will use tests such as an ECG (electrical recording of the heart), blood tests and medical history to determine the underlying cause and treatment.

The ECG recording is the most important diagnostic test, which is the basis for further action.

In some cases, the so-called ECG Holter is also preferred. This device records the electrical activity of the heart 24 hours a day. It can therefore pick up heart activity that occurs only transiently during the day and subsides on its own.

Treatment and management of palpitations

The solution depends on the cause of the palpitations. This phenomenon is not the disease itself, but a consequence or symptom of it. Last but not least, it is also necessary to find enough time for exercise, sport or relaxation, for example in nature.

Often, a change in lifestyle is an effective solution. Getting enough rest, sleep and avoiding stress will help solve many problems.

Of course, limiting the intake of alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine or other substances that cause the heart to beat faster is also a good idea.

Want your children to grow up to be healthy and active people?

If heart palpitations are the result of a disease, it is important to address it. As we mentioned, it could be anemia, diabetes, low blood pressure or even thyroid disease.

For conditions where the heart itself is the cause of the palpitations, i.e. various arrhythmias, your doctor will probably refer you to an internist or cardiologist.

Read also our magazine article: What are the causes of palpitations?