Palpitations

Palpitation is a discomfort phenomenon in which one can feel one's own heartbeat. It refers to the patient's conscious awareness of heart throbbing, even to the extent of being unable to control it. When it occurs, the patient feels the heartbeat is fast and strong, accompanied by discomfort in the precordial area. The heartbeat may be too fast, too slow, irregular, or beat at a normal rate. It falls within the categories of "fright palpitation" and "palpitation with restlessness" in traditional Chinese medicine. Possible causes of palpitation include excessive exertion, adrenaline, alcohol, diseases (such as hyperthyroidism), and use of drugs (such as stimulants like caffeine). Palpitation is also one of the symptoms of panic disorder or mitral stenosis. This condition can be seen in the course of various diseases, often coexisting with insomnia, forgetfulness, dizziness, tinnitus, etc. Any cause that leads to abnormalities in the frequency or rhythm of cardiac beating can result in palpitation. In Western medicine, palpitation occurring in certain organic or functional diseases such as coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, various arrhythmias, as well as anemia, hypokalemia, cardiac neurosis, etc., can all be treated with reference to this chapter.