Why is my heart beating fast after eating

Experiencing heart palpitations after eating can detract from the experience of an otherwise enjoyable meal. But why does it happen in the first place? And does it mean there’s anything you should worry about? This article will explore why you can get heart palpitations after eating and some solutions to treat them.

Heart Palpitations After Eating: Why Do They Happen?

A heart palpitation often feels like your heart skipped a beat or beat more than it was supposed to. It can be accompanied by a strange feeling in your chest or neck, and you might suddenly have an awareness of your heartbeat. Your heart might feel like it’s racing or fluttering.

But does this sensation mean something’s wrong? Well, the heart is an organic timekeeper, and it can sometimes skip a beat or beat when it’s not supposed to. Fortunately, these events are usually benign and harmless, and the heart returns to its normal rhythm soon afterward.

If you only experience palpitations when you eat, then there could be several causes:

• Caffeine intake.

It’s an ingredient in many foods and beverages, but it’s a potent stimulant that can cause jitters, an increased heart rate, and heart palpitations. It’s found in energy drinks, coffee, and tea, but also some sodas and chocolates.

• Nicotine intake.

Nicotine is a stimulant and increases your heart rate. Smoking, using tobacco products, or vaping before or after your meal can increase the occurrence of palpitations.

• Emotions surrounding mealtime.

Heart palpitations can occur due to an emotional response. If you’re experiencing a lot of stress or anxiety around the time that you eat your meal, you might be more likely to feel palpitations.

• The physical act of swallowing.

This, on its own, may activate the sympathetic nervous system and cause palpitations.

How To Treat Heart Palpitations After Eating

There are many ways to treat heart palpitations, but first, a medical professional must assess the symptoms and see if there’s anything concerning them. If your symptoms fall under the common, harmless category, then some changes to your lifestyle may improve them.

Lowering your caffeine intake is a good way to start. Experts recommend not consuming any caffeine after the late afternoon, as it can inhibit your ability to fall and stay asleep at nighttime.

Quitting smoking is also a great idea. Along with a whole series of other health benefits, not consuming nicotine can decrease the frequency of heart palpitations.

If you don’t use any stimulant substances, your palpitations may be related to an emotional response. Try to log your eating habits and emotions throughout the day, as well as any palpitations. This may reveal patterns or triggers that you can avoid in the future.

Conclusion

It’s a great idea to see a doctor, particularly a cardiovascular specialist, if your heart palpitations are worrying you. They’ll be able to assess your symptoms and perform diagnostic tests to determine whether these palpitations require treatment or are harmless.

At the Northwest Cardiovascular Clinic in Houston, TX, we listen to all of our patients and keep you confident and comfortable through our high-quality care practices. We’re equipped to perform a comprehensive suite of tests to diagnose any potential heart problems. These include electrocardiography, heart rhythm monitoring, and blood tests. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach us at (281) 807-5253.

Heart flutters are not always magical. A heart beating too fast or skipping a beat in medical terms is known as palpitation. Heart palpitations are noticeable in the chest, neck, or even the throat. They are common, usually not harmful, and resolve easily on their own. Many reasons are linked to heart palpitations, anxiety, stress, tobacco smoking, and even after eating.

Rarely does heart palpitation mean anything related to the heart. However, if it is accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, excessive sweating, and chest pain, get medical help immediately. In this blog, we have discussed one of the very common reasons, eating pattern that leads to palpitation.

Why Do I Get Heart Palpitations After Eating?

There are many things after eating of which heart palpitations occur. Some of the dietary-related triggers are:  
• Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is the low content of sugars in the blood. Eating high levels of processed sugar or large portions of carbohydrates, you will feel bloating and heart palpitations.
 

• Dehydration 

Having an adequate intake of water is essential; dehydration often leads to palpitations.
 

• Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption is hazardous to health, according to recent research its intake along with atrial fibrillation, can cause heart palpitations. If you are a chronic heavy drinker, then a reduction in amount can benefit you significantly.
 

• Food Allergies 

Steer clear of food allergies since it will cause not only flutter, but there is a risk of anaphylactic shock involved too.

• Sodium and Potassium Level

High sodium levels and low potassium both affect the heart’s beating. Canned processed foods are most likely to spike sodium levels in the blood.

• Caffeine

If functioning without your morning coffee is a task, your heart palpitation issue is most likely due to excessive caffeine intake. Having one or two cups of coffee is not a big deal and would not interfere with your bodily functions. However, a significant excess will lead to trouble. Caffeine is not only a stimulant but also has a diuretic effect. Diuretics increase urination frequency leading to dehydration in the body.

Other reasons for Palpitations: 

Significant hormonal changes also cause palpitations. Especially if we talk about women, severe hormonal changes happen throughout their lives. Be it menopause or pregnancy; every phase takes a toll on the heart rate.

Treatment for Heart Palpitations 

It is important to target the root cause for effective treatment. First course of treatment is making lifestyle changes, monitoring eating habits so that there is no heart palpitations after it.

Maintenance of a food diary can help catch what triggers are causing this problem. Avoiding those would most probably help reverse the issue. Decreasing intake of caffeinated beverages and cessation of smoke can work well.

If the heart palpitation issue is taking a serious hike, then the doctor may prescribe anti-arrhythmic beta blockers to keep your heart rate in control. Rarely do they pose issues and act as life-threatening symptoms. But if they do, a pacemaker or defibrillator is used to bring the rate to be normal.

Conclusion

Heart flutter can be nothing or anything dangerous related to the heart. It is best to monitor your condition closely and reach out to Epic Heart & Vascular Center if the situation seems out of control. Call at (832) 952-1951 Willowbrook and 832-432-1951 Houston