Medical Questions » Heart Questions » Question No. 493
| Question: | My heart keeps jumping! Every few minutes it gives a funny beat. How can I stop this? |
| Answer: | Everyone has extra heart beats at some time or other, and they cause no problems. If it become a frequent occurrence, it may be annoying, but is not normally serious.
The first step is to have a cardiograph (ECG) done by your GP to demonstrate the type of abnormal beat, and possibly its cause. After this you may merely be reassured, or medication can be prescribed to prevent the extra beats. Unfortunately, this medication does not cure, only control, so it may have to be taken for many years.
The heart rate is determined by a pacemaker at the top of the heart. The pacemaker usually slows the heart down, as the heart would beat much faster if the pacemaker were disconnected. If you exercise, the inhibiting effect of the pacemaker is reduced, and then the opposite effect may be applied to speed the heart rate even further if you exercise very vigorously. At times, the natural tendency of the heart to beat faster than the pacemaker wishes can break through, and an extra, premature beat occurs, which you feel as a jump in your heart.
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