A healthy person's resting heart rate ranges from 55 to 90 beats per minute, says cardiologist Asiyat Khachirova (Russia).
Sometimes palpitation is just a physiological reaction. Sometimes, however, it indicates serious problems.
"For example, when a person has run or been nervous, they release catecholamines - substances that contribute to an increase in heart rate. The pulse rate is usually 90 to 120 beats per minute, and that's relatively healthy tachycardia," the doctor said, adding that in such situations you just need to calm down, take deep breaths, and drink mint tea.
But if a person's resting heart rate consistently rises above 120 beats per minute or has bouts of tachycardia, when the heart starts beating sharply and then suddenly calms down, that's a reason to see a doctor.
"It may be an individual reaction to something, it may be hereditary, or it may indicate the presence of some disease," Khachirova said.
It also happens with hyperthyroidism. Tachycardia can also be mistaken for dangerous atrial fibrillation. Fibrillation, the cardiologist said, is a dangerous, life-threatening condition in which the atria give significantly more impulses than the ventricles can take.
"There is a disconnection of the cardiac impulse, the atria stop contracting properly. If the disease is relatively recent, doctors restore the rhythm," Khachirova said
According to her, it is necessary to consult a doctor if the pulse rate is constantly increased or if the pulse rate accelerates sharply for no apparent reason, and then comes back to normal again.
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