Palpitations- how to manage them

[Borntobeamum]

My DH has begun having heart palpitations.
They only last a few minutes but are very scary. He then feels wiped out.

He has a Drs appointment tomorrow evening after I said he needs to be seen.

He’s just phoned me from the motorway saying he’s experiencing them again and he was heading for the first exit.

I talked reassuringly as best I could helping him with his breathing and trying to keep him (and me) calm.

He’s currently sat in the car as he feels he’s just run a mile and feels crap.

Im sat here worrying and wondered has anyone advice. He’s had 3 episodes and although we’ve read up on them, I’m open to all offers.

Many thanks.

Caffeine and alcohol are often triggers as can nicotine be. Cutting or reducing one or more might help.

I never used to feel my arrhythmia, but was having 25% extra beats a day.

To give some comfort, I gave up caffeine, had a short low dose of beta blockers (which I have since come off) and have been largely arrhythmia-free for the last 10 years.

I recognise that arrhythmia and palpitations aren't exactly the same - but it does show that doing something is the right way to go.

PS If you have private medical insurance this is somewhere I would be using it, to get all relevant diagnostic checks done.

GP will likely want to do an ECG, maybe blood tests. He might get prescribed beta blockers. He might get referred to cardiology depending on the type of palpitations he's having.

Palpitations are very uncomfortable but a lot of the time they're not harmful. I'm sure GP will be able to reassure and give advice.

I had palpitations out the blue at 50 which escalated into fast AF and ended up in resus with my heart going at 180. Is his pulse regular?
I stopped all alcohol and caffeine, it made no difference and after more episodes had a cardiac ablation (privately due to NHS wait).
I'm on low dose beta blockers but still get ectopic beats fairly frequently.
If his pulse is irregular he needs to be seen.

I’m on beta blockers for palpitations but occasionally they break through. I’ve had full investigations - 24 hr ecg, heart scan etc and nothing serious found so it’s likely they’re annoying but harmless.

To stop them I try holding my breath, or breathing out fully and holding it. Drinking something cold and loosening any tight clothing also helps, and I find it better not to get too hot if possible.

Thank you everyone.

I’ve been in close contact and he’s on his way home now.

He was recently (prior to his first episode) prescribed Statins and BP medication.
Apparently palpitations can be a side effect of statins (1/10)

Again, thank you x

It is worth him trying a valsalva manoeuvre if he has another episode: this essentially activates the vagus nerve and can sometimes terminate certain types of palpitations. It’s described as “forced expiration against a closed glottis”. It’s what you would do if straining hard on defecation, or pushing during labour.

https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/valsalva-maneuver