Why do I feel heart palpitations after exercise?

Palpitations are sensations that feel like the heart is fluttering, skipping a beat, or pounding. Usually, they are not serious, but sometimes they may indicate the presence of a serious heart disease. If having persisting heart palpitations seeking a medical council is never amiss.

Having heart palpitations after exercise is common for some people. Usually, palpitations happen before or after the exercise but not while exercising.

But why does this happen?

During exercise, the heart rate accelerates in order to pump more blood to bear the increased skeletal muscle’s demand for oxygen. Also, during exercise, the levels of Adrenaline (which stimulates the heart to beat faster) also increase. At this period, when the heart rate is accelerated, palpitations disappear. After exercise, at rest, while the heart rate goes down, the levels of Adrenaline remain higher for a period of time. This period often permits the extra beats and palpitations to come back and sometimes their frequency and rate are higher than before the exercise.

Is there any risk for health problems?

Heart palpitations after exercise, when not accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, chest pain, loss of consciousness, usually are completely benign and there is no reason to be worried about.

But, if they are accompanied by one or more of the aforementioned symptoms, they can be signs of serious and probably life-threatening diseases and, in this case, further medical evaluation is needed.

Will palpitations get reduced when calming down?

Benign heart palpitations(when are not accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, loss of consciousness) disappear when calming down.

Some easy and effective lifestyle and home remedies that can help relieve heart palpitations after exercise are as following:

1.    Valsalva maneuver– it is a technique that helps restore a fast heartbeat to normal, by stimulating the Vagus nerve. It is done by attempting a forceful exhalation with a closed mouth and nose. This maneuver is contraindicated if having any heart disease.

2.    Coughing– coughing for a few can help break up the pattern of a palpitation.

3.    Breathing deeply– it is one of the most effective ways to stop heart palpitations. Consider sitting comfortably in a crossed-leg position. Inhale deeply through the nose, and exhale through your mouth. Repeat this pattern a few times until your heart rate slows down.

4.    Cold water– a decrease of the water intake makes your heart more prone to palpitation. Drinking cold water will restore the regular heartbeat. Also, putting ice in the face will help ease palpitations.

5.    Cinnamon– it is an effective home remedy that helps in slowing the heart rate. This is due to its content with numerous nutrients such as magnesium and potassium which are good for the heart. If having heart palpitations after exercise, mix a teaspoon of cinnamon powder with a glass of warm water and drink it.

6.    Lemon Balm– it is an excellent herb to take if having heart palpitations. You can include lemon balm in your cooking, or mixing a teaspoon of lemon balm with warm water, leaving it for 5-10 min and drinking it when having palpitations.

7.    If having palpitations accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness etc. then going to the doctor is a must.

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By hert