What does it mean if I feel like my heart has momentarily paused for a second, and what should I do?
May 11, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Tian Hongbo
Introduction
Feeling a brief moment of cardiac suspension per second may be caused by physiological factors, which can ease after proper rest. However, it could also result from conditions such as arrhythmia or heart failure, requiring medication. Besides these factors, it might also be related to myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, or ventricular premature contractions; therefore, timely medical evaluation is necessary to determine the exact underlying cause.
Feeling as though the heart has momentarily "floated" or "suspended" for a second may be caused by physiological factors and typically resolves with adequate rest. However, it could also result from pathological conditions such as arrhythmia or heart failure, which require medical treatment. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Physiological Factors
If a person has recently experienced excessive emotional excitement or nervous tension, the heart may undergo overly strong contractions, leading to palpitations and the sensation of cardiac suspension. Symptoms usually subside after proper rest, and there is generally no need for concern.
2. Pathological Factors
1) Arrhythmia
This is an important group of cardiovascular diseases. The heart muscle may contract prematurely and irregularly, causing traction on other tissues and resulting in the sensation that the heart has suspended for a second. Treatment should follow medical advice using medications such as procainamide hydrochloride injection, lidocaine hydrochloride injection, or propranolol hydrochloride tablets to alleviate symptoms.
2) Heart Failure
Heart failure is a circulatory disorder characterized by impaired blood flow. It can lead to insufficient oxygen supply to the myocardium, increased myocardial oxygen consumption, and eventually extensive myocardial necrosis, causing the sensation of cardiac suspension. Active treatment under medical guidance is necessary, using drugs such as furosemide tablets, torasemide tablets, or hydrochlorothiazide tablets to promote recovery.
In addition to the above causes, this symptom may also be associated with myocardial infarction, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, or ventricular premature contractions. If discomfort occurs, prompt medical evaluation at a hospital is recommended to identify the exact cause and determine appropriate treatment.
