Psychosomatics of arrhythmia
Arrhythmia means your heart beats unevenly: too fast, too slowly or with skipped beats. According to the NHS, a feeling that your heart skips a beat is common and usually not a sign of anything serious, but the cause is worth checking, usually with an ECG. If it comes with chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting, call an ambulance straight away. The Ladder method helps you notice what you feel when your heart stumbles, and it does not replace a cardiologist.
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When to see a doctor
A general doctor or a cardiologist. The usual first test is an ECG, and the doctor may add a heart ultrasound, blood tests and a rhythm recording over a day or more. See a doctor if the skipped beats keep coming back, get more frequent or last longer than a few minutes, or if you already have a heart condition or it runs in your family.
In the Ladder method
In the Ladder method, arrhythmia is not explained as "you worry too much" or "your heart cannot bear your feelings". It is not your fault: the rhythm depends on the electrical system of the heart, blood pressure, the thyroid, iron in the blood and much more. See a doctor first. Questions to yourself belong next to treatment, not instead of it.
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In the method, the heart suits the image of the rhythm of your life: when you rush, when you stumble and when you cannot catch your breath. It is an image, not the cause of arrhythmia, and it does not replace an ECG.
On the ladder this shows up as the steps "I am not keeping up" and "I am not allowed to stop". You can work through them at your own pace while a doctor watches your heart.
These are questions for reflection, not an explanation of what causes the condition and not a treatment.
More: signs, medicine, sources, questions
How it shows up
Book a doctor’s appointment if you notice:
- Your heart beats unevenly, with skipped beats
- A feeling that your heart stops or flips over
- A fast heartbeat at rest
- Weakness and dizziness
- Breathlessness when you exert yourself
- Anxiety about every heartbeat
What medicine knows
The rhythm of the heart is set by electrical signals. When they run too fast, too slowly or out of order, the result is an arrhythmia. It is not one disease but a group of conditions, from harmless extra beats to atrial fibrillation, which needs treatment (NHS).
The feeling of your heart pounding, fluttering or skipping a beat is, according to the NHS, common and usually not a sign of anything serious. Most often it comes from strenuous exercise, lack of sleep, stress and anxiety, medicines, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. Sometimes it appears during the menopause and in pregnancy.
It can also come from iron deficiency anaemia, an overactive thyroid or a heart condition, so a doctor checks for these first. An ECG is the usual test: pads on your skin record the electrical signals of your heart. Many people with an arrhythmia need no treatment, only check-ups (NHS).
Atrial fibrillation is marked by an uneven pulse, sometimes faster than 100 beats a minute, plus tiredness and breathlessness. A doctor may prescribe medicine that lowers the risk of blood clots and stroke. It can also have no symptoms and be found at a routine check-up. So an uneven pulse that keeps coming back is worth showing to a doctor.
Sources
- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia). Национальная служба здравоохранения Великобритании (NHS)
- Heart palpitations. Национальная служба здравоохранения Великобритании (NHS)
- Atrial fibrillation. Национальная служба здравоохранения Великобритании (NHS)
- Arrhythmia. MedlinePlus, Национальная медицинская библиотека США
Frequently asked questions
Can arrhythmia come from nerves?
Stress and anxiety are among the common causes of palpitations, and such palpitations are usually not dangerous (NHS). But you can say that nerves are the only cause only after a check: a doctor rules out heart conditions, anaemia and thyroid problems. In the Ladder method, skipped beats become a reason to ask yourself about the pace of your life, and this does not replace a doctor.
Is arrhythmia dangerous?
It depends on the type. According to the NHS, an arrhythmia might not be serious, and many people need no treatment. Atrial fibrillation needs monitoring and sometimes medicine against blood clots. If skipped beats come with chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting, call an ambulance.
What should I do if my heartbeat feels uneven?
If you have no chest pain, breathlessness or fainting right now, sit down and breathe calmly, then book a visit with a general doctor or a cardiologist: an ECG is usually the first step. Cutting down caffeine, alcohol and nicotine and getting enough sleep also help (NHS). If symptoms are severe or do not pass, call an ambulance.
Related topics
Answers to common questions
Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.