By Nana Ama Gyapong
Heart palpitations are feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart. Stress, exercise, medication or, rarely, a medical condition can trigger them.
According to Dr. Florence Koryo Akumiah, (MBCHB, MSC) from the internal medicine department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, a normal heartbeat should be between 60- 100 per a minute and described how a regular heart rhythm sounds “lap-dap, lap- dap”.
She added that one should not be experiencing palpitations on a regular basis.
Dr. Florence disclosed that there are some spicy foods and drinks like energy drinks that contain caffeine, substance for recreation such as ecstasy and cocaine can cause heart palpitations and added that even medications prescribed by a doctor can cause it too which can lead to one’s death.
She again revealed that heart palpitations are also common in children as well explaining that some of these cases are as a result of cardiac pathologies, psychiatric problems, and metabolic problems amongst others, the reason for the one to be first examined.
Anxiety and depression can cause one to be mentally unstable.
She suggested some cardioprotective diets for people who experience these heart palpitations such as the Mediterranean diet, intake of electrolytes.
She advised people to take heart palpitations seriously because it is very dangerous and can kill easily.
