Palpitation Causes

Palpitation Causes

Aka: Palpitation Causes

II. Causes: By Frequency

  1. Non-organic such as Anxiety Disorder (31%)
  2. Atrial Fibrillation (16%)
  3. Supraventricular Tachycardia (10%)
  4. Medications or recreational drugs (6%)
  5. Systemic disease (4%)
  6. Structural heart disease (3%), esp. Mitral Valve Prolapse
  7. Ventricular Tachycardia (2%)

III. Causes: By Characteristics and Timing

  1. Isolated single beats improved with Exercise
    1. Premature Atrial Contractions
    2. Premature Ventricular Contractions
  2. Slow Heart Rate with Palpitations
    1. Atrioventricular Block
    2. Sinus node disease (e.g. Sick Sinus Syndrome)
  3. Rapid beats with sudden onset (Tachyarrhythmias)
    1. Sinus Tachycardia
    2. Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT)
    3. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter
    4. Ventricular Tachycardia
  4. Intermittent episodes with gradual onset
    1. Caffeine (tea, coffee, soda, chocolate)
    2. Drugs of Abuse
      1. Cocaine
      2. Methamphetamine and other Amphetamines
      3. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMAEcstasy)
      4. Marijuana
    3. Herbals
      1. Ephedra
      2. Yohimbine
      3. Guarana
      4. Yerba mate
      5. Kola nut
      6. Bitter Orange
      7. Coenzyme Q10
      8. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements
    4. Other medications
      1. Theophylline
      2. Beta Agonists
      3. Digitalis
      4. Performance Enhancing Drugs (e.g. Anabolic Steroids)
    5. Carbon Monoxide toxicity
    6. Tobacco products
    7. Panic Attack
    8. Pheochromocytoma (rare)
    9. Mitral Valve Prolapse
  5. Persistant Palpitations at rest
    1. Anemia (worse with Exercise)
    2. Hyperthyroidism
    3. Hypertension
    4. Beriberi
    5. Fever
    6. Dehydration
    7. Anxiety Disorder
    8. Cardiomyopathy
    9. Pericarditis
    10. Valvular abnormality
      1. Aortic Regurgitation
      2. Mitral Regurgitation
      3. Large Ventricular Septal Defect

IV. Causes: Cardiac

  1. Arrhythmia
    1. Extrasystoles
      1. Atrial premature contractions
      2. Ventricular premature contractions
    2. Supraventricular Tachycardia
      1. Atrial Fibrillation
      2. Atrial Flutter
      3. Atrial Tachycardia
      4. Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry arrhythmia
      5. Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
    3. Ventricular Tachycardia
    4. Miscellaneous
      1. Autonomic Dysfunction
      2. Sick Sinus Syndrome
  2. Structural heart disease
    1. Atrial myxoma
    2. Cardiomyopathy
    3. Long QT syndrome (Ventricular Tachycardia risk)
    4. Valvular heart disease
    5. Mitral Valve Prolapse

V. Causes: Non-Cardiac

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