Heart Skips, Flips, Flutters, and Palpitations - When Should Women Worry

Women are wired different from men, so it should come as no surprise that doctors at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute see a lot of female patients with heart flutters, skips, and palpitations. These flutters can range from bothersome to terrifying, but aren't usually serious.

Cardiologist Tracy Stevens, M.D., medical director of Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center, says symptoms may worsen with stress, use of caffeine, alcohol, decongestants, inhalers, sleep aids, or weight loss medications. In cases like these, the pulse rate increases due to adrenalin. Some palpitations are caused by medical disorders like uncontrolled high blood pressure, anemia, thyroid abnormalities, electrolyte imbalances, and sleep apnea.

Hormonal cycles in women or changes in hormonal therapy may be associated with heart skips or flutters, as well as chest pain.

"Though these skips and flutters are likely to be benign and only require reassurance, a complete history must be obtained and a cardiovascular examination performed to determine whether structural or electrical circuit abnormalities are the cause of the disorder," said Dr. Stevens.

Assessment would involve a history and physical, and may also include a blood test, electrocardiogram, monitoring to detect changes in rhythm, and a chest X-ray or echocardiogram.

Treatment depends on the cause, and many heart palpitations often go away on their own. If not, strategies might include stress-reduction therapy, avoiding certain foods, medications, or supplements. Medications like beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers may alleviate symptoms. Some patients notice a decrease in symptoms when taking omega-3 fish oil, said Dr. Stevens.

For some women, more aggressive therapy is required. Hulay Jallow of Olathe, Kan., began experiencing rapid heart beats in her '40s. After a referral to Dr. Stevens, it was discovered that Jallow has an extra electrical circuit in her heart, causing her rapid heartbeats. She opted for radiofrequency ablation, a procedure performed in the electrophysiology lab and used for many types of arrhythmias. A catheter is inserted into a specific area of the heart and an electrode is guided through the catheter to small areas of the heart muscle that cause the abnormal heart rhythm. This radio wave energy "disconnects" the source of the abnormal rhythm from the rest of the heart and can offer symptom relief.

In Jallow's case, her episodes have abated and she has peace of mind knowing that her disorder has been addressed. Now she's an advocate for other women. Her advice? "Be proactive. If you have symptoms, do your research and have it checked out."

About Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute
Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, a member of Saint Luke's Health System and a teaching affiliate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is one of the preeminent cardiovascular programs in the country. Its legacy of innovation began more than 25 years ago when it opened as the nation's first heart hospital. Since then, the Heart Institute has earned a world-wide reputation for excellence in the treatment of heart disease, including interventional cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, imaging, heart failure, transplant, heart disease prevention, women's heart disease, electrophysiology, outcomes research, and health economics. With more than 50 full-time board certified cardiovascular specialists on staff, the Heart Institute offers one of the largest heart failure/heart transplant programs in the country, has the largest experience with transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the Midwest, and is a global teaching site for the newest approaches to opening challenging blocked arteries using minimally invasive techniques.

[CarolAEssed]

In my case it was weight. I started eating 2 very small portions a day. And I snack on fruits. Drink a lot of water. Ofcourse I also take magnesium, don't do alcohol, caffeine, not much salt, watch out for preservatives...and it works. Hallelujah!!!

[Antihippie]

i kept getting told it was anxiety and all in my head but i wore a 30 day monitor and they caught SEVERAL events and now they're taking me seriously.

[yqrose]

My heart just jumps in my chest sometimes And it’s scary

[K.Lovelace]

I get these everyday, off and on all day, my cardiologist says they are nothing to worry about, sometimes mine will last for days and then I will go months without having them, but this time this is day 3 I have had them off and on all day.. I take metoprolol and Magnesium but they still happen... Started having them in my 20's and I am 53 now, they got worse after my HA last March, but doc says last time my heart was checked which was 4 monhts ago that everything looked good on the ECG and my heart appeared very strong and not to worry, so I will take him at his word.. I am still here so far..

[zymeiwj]

I get this a lot when I am done eating or something my heart flutters then I get scared cause it feels like it's going to stop it just happens out of nowhere

[CarolAEssed]

Small pieces of raw garlic or raw onions prevent palpitations! It really works!!!

[PercentOS]

Very informative video. I'm 73 and well past menopause. I started having issues with my heart shortly after my menopause. But I have to admit I don't have a lot of confidence in my doctors either.

[shaiiimarie]

I am anemic and my heart beats so fast and i was having difficult time to breathe. and my body is shaking and I was having a hard time to sleep because of this. 😔🥺

[hummingbird]

I've been having skipped heart beats for over 11 years now. I'm actually having some as I sit here. It's a lot worse when I exert myself or when my blood pressure goes higher. My GP retired last September, so I now have no doctor, and no BP medication. I'm a 57 yr old female. I take an Aspirin once in awhile in hopes that I won't have a heart attack or stroke.

[Kittles]

I get this weird heart palpitations once or twice a day that goes away on it's own during my luteal phase of menstrual cycle. I've done blood tests, ecg, both turned out to be normal. So it's just hormonal fluctuations causing it. And I'm a young 21 year old girl so it's not a chronic health condition. I had taken prescribed antidepressants for 2 weeks which seemed to improve the symptoms and have stopped them now bcz of the side effects with doctor's advice. I have also heard that ashwagandha a herb is good for symptoms like anxiety which i also have. So I'm thinking of taking it.

[acaciamurray]

I remember one day I was having palpitations. I PRAYED. And then it went away! No lie! Feeling at peace will decrease those palpitations, that’s a fact!

[pamelaclary]

I was supposed to get a echocardiogram today and they canceled on me. They’ve canceled on me a few times too.

[ammysingh]

Hello doctor, I have palpitations since last couples of months, but no miss pulse nothing just an palpitation. I had one panic attack too, Sometimes this palpitation leads to swear headache, could u pls give your suggestions on it. Thanks

[Spitfiregirl]

I get it during my periods at nights it’s the worst it’s a weird feeling

[millieaviles]

I’m so tired of feeling these flutters, skipped heart beats, the episodes are an endless cycle for me. Went to the emergency room they said it’s anxiety. No it’s not! I can literally feel them in my chest area. I’m so sick and tired of this. I rather die than ti feel this

[jmdr]

I always have heart palpitation 3days before my period

[Sweetbutapsycho]

Thank you so much!!! I’ve been panicking myself sick with worry my doctor has told me it’s all in my head 😤😤I have hypothyroidism which I now believe is causing my heart palpitations this video has helped so much thanks 😊

[Mercury]

I’m sorry but when an overweight person says “I ate healthy and exercise but still get palpitations”, it’s a problem with self awareness

[pamelaclary]

I’ve been having these problems for years, before I turned 40 and I’m 47 now. I’ve been back and forth to the hospital but they only do an ekg and then send me home. They’ve been pushing me away for long years.

[supergrannyep]

Im only 14 and i feel these irregular heart and dizziness, tiredness just uncomfortable when im in class and out. What should i do?