Heart palpitation is a condition where your heart is beating abnormally or irregularly, either too fast or too slow. In the normal state, your heart beats 60-100 beats per minute, but if this rate drops below 60 or exceeds 100, then palpitations are said to have occurred. In essence, your heart feels as if it’s racing, fluttering, or pounding. Heart palpitations could last anywhere from just a few seconds to as long as hours together.
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Causes of heart palpitations
Heart palpitations could be caused due to external stimulants, hormonal conditions, or psychological factors. The most common causes for heart palpitations include:
- Anemia
- Low blood sugar
- High levels of adrenalin caused by stress/anxiety
- An overactive thyroid
- An electrolyte imbalance in the body
- Drinking too much caffeine/caffeinated drinks
- Nicotine/alcohol usage
- Using illegal drugs like marijuana or cocaine
- Certain prescription medications
Heart palpitations are themselves a symptom of an underlying medical condition in most cases. These conditions include a heart condition, especially when it’s accompanied by chest pain, sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting spells, and blurred vision. However, they are usually accompanied by shortness of breath and a constricted sensation in the throat.
Home remedies for heart palpitations
You don’t need to suffer through this uncomfortable and unpleasant condition. You can make some simple lifestyle changes, while employing a few easy home remedies for heart palpitations that will go a long way in relieving the problem. Take a look:
1. Bananas
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Bananas are rich in potassium, which is an electrolyte that is essential for proper functioning of the heart. Hypokalemia is a condition where you body doesn’t have adequate amount of potassium, which leads to heart palpitations. Once this mineral levels are restored, it helps normalize your heart rate.
Remedy
- Consume a banana every day for a healthy heart.
2. Blackstrap molasses
Blackstrap molasses is rich in potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium, all of whose deficiencies could cause heart palpitations. So, ingesting blackstrap molasses helps restore these minerals in the body, thus dealing effectively with the heart palpitations. Additionally, it helps treat anemia, which is one of the leading causes for the palpitations in the first place.
Remedies
- To 1 cup of water, add 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses and stir. Drink this to help normalize your heartbeat. Use this remedy once a day for a few days for best results.
- In 1 cup of water, mix together 2 teaspoons each of blackstrap molasses and apple cider vinegar. Stir well and drink this to help with the palpitations. Follow this remedy once every day for positive results.
3. Cinnamon
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Cinnamon is another excellent ingredient which helps deal with heart palpitations. It has many chemicals and nutrients, including potassium and manganese, which are essential for the heart. Additionally, it helps improve blood flow to the heart, reduce high blood pressure, and also prevent excess buildup of low-density lipoproteins.
Remedies
- To 1 glass of warm water, add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and stir. Drink this once a day for a few days to help with heart palpitations.
- In a clean cup, mix together 1 teaspoon each of cinnamon powder and honey. Consume this once every day for a few days to relieve heart palpitations.
4. Cold water
If your fluid intake isn’t adequate, that also makes you more prone to irregular heartbeats. Regular, consistent fluid intake helps bring down stress, dizziness, and anxiety.
Remedies
- Drink a glass of cold water, sipping slowly.
- Splash some cold water on your face and neck, which helps deal with palpitations and panic attacks.
- Taking a cold shower is known to help shock your nervous system, which in turn helps normalize your heartbeat.
5. Coriander and aniseed
Coriander and aniseed are both spices that help provide relief from chest pain that could be caused by irregular heartbeats.
Remedy
- In a clean bowl, mix together 2 teaspoons each of coriander powder and aniseed powder. To this, add 1 teaspoon of honey and mix well. Consume this after each meal to normalize heart palpitations.
6. Coughing
Vigorous coughing for a few minutes is known to help break the palpitation pattern. This is accomplished by the pressure that builds up in your chest when you cough.
Remedy
- Cough as vigorously as you can for a few minutes, by which time your heart rate should have returned to its normal rhythm.
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7. Deep breathing
Deep breathing is one of the best and easiest ways to help normalize heart palpitations. Not only does it help ease anxiety, it also helps with a panic attach, thus helping deal with heart palpitations. Additionally, this remedy also helps relax your body, while increasing the oxygen supply to the brain.
Remedy
- Sit in a comfortable position, preferably cross-legged on a firm surface. Focus on your breathing, and take slow, deep breaths in through your nose, letting your belly and chest expand with each inhalation. Hold it in for a few beats before exhaling through your mouth. Repeat this remedy for a few minutes, till your heart rate normalizes.
Tip: Yoga and meditation are also known to help prevent heart palpitations.
8. Garlic
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Garlic is packed full of vital nutrients that are beneficial for your health. It helps lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while also helping clear clogged arteries.
Remedy
- Make a paste using 1 clove of garlic with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Consume this every day for a few days to help normalize heart palpitations.
9. Hawthorn
Hawthorn is another herb that is quite effective in normalizing heart palpitations. It does this by increasing blood flow to the heart, while improving cardiac muscle contractions.
Remedy
- The most effective way is to ingest this herb in the supplement form. But take this only after consulting your doctor for dosage and frequency.
10. Honey and lemon
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Honey is easy to digest, which the body assimilates quite easily. It’s a great treatment option for normalizing heart palpitations.
Remedy
- Add 1 teaspoon of honey to 1 cup of water, along with a spritz of fresh lemon juice. Stir and drink this on an empty stomach every morning to prevent heart palpitations.
11. Increase magnesium intake
A deficiency of magnesium in your body can lead to heart palpitations. This mineral is essential for the smooth functioning of the heart and the nervous system, while also vital for better blood circulation.
Remedies
- Consume foods rich in magnesium like almonds, cashews, kale, spinach, dark green vegetables, quinoa, peanut butter, cold-water fish, dark chocolate, low-fat yogurt, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, oatmeal, avocados, and bananas.
- Ingesting magnesium supplements works too, but do it only after consulting your doctor for the right dosage and frequency.
12. Lemon balm
Lemon balm is also known as Melissa officinalis, another herb that is quite effective in normalizing heart palpitations. It works as a mild relaxant and helps bring down anxiety. Additionally, it also helps normalize an overactive thyroid.
Remedies
- To 1 cup of hot water, add 1 teaspoon of dried lemon balm and cover it with a lid. Let it steep for 10 minutes, before straining it. Drink this tea whenever you experience palpitations.
- Use lemon balm in your dishes to help prevent palpitations.
- Ingest lemon balm supplements, but only after consulting your doctor for the right dosage and frequency.
13. Valerian
If the heart palpitations are caused by panic attacks or anxiety, valerian is a good remedy, since it helps calm you and restore your normal heartbeat. Additionally, it helps promote sleep.
Remedies
- To 1 glass of water, add 10 drops of valerian tincture and drink it for immediate relief.
- Ingesting valerian supplements is also helpful, but do this only after consulting your doctor for the dosage and frequency.
Tip: This remedy is NOT recommended for pregnant women.
14. Valsalva maneuver
This is an ancient breathing technique that helps bring down the heartbeat rate to normal. It accomplishes this by stimulating the vagus nerve, which in turn leads to slowing down the heart rate.
Remedy
- Pinch your nose, shut your mouth, and try to breathe out forcibly. This will help accelerate your heart rate, which then slows down your heartbeat.
Tip: If you have a known heart condition, do not use this remedy.
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Additional tips
- Include more green vegetables and fresh fruits in your daily dietary intake.
- Avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine, like chocolates, soft drinks, coffee, and tea.
- Quit smoking and using products that contain tobacco.
- Try and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control.
- Manage stress effectively by practicing yoga, meditation, and other de-stressing techniques.
- Keep yourself hydrated by drinking enough water through the day.
- Try and get in at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise for 3-4 times a week. Playing tennis, running, walking, are all excellent choices.
- Try and get at least 6-7 hours of sleep every night.
- Avoid illegal drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines since they cause palpitations.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages as much as possible.
- Consume a couple of ripe guavas on an empty stomach every day.
- Don’t forget to check with your doctor before taking any medications or supplements.
These are all the highly effective home remedies for heart palpitations. For more updates on health tips and fitness secrets, subscribe to our newsletter today.
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