There’s something reassuring about the heartbeat – grounding, even. It’s always there, always rhythmic. Have a go – feel it. Chances are, it will instantly calm you down.
It’s easy to take for granted that this regular beat will always be just that – regular. But unfortunately, things might not go according to plan. If you pay close attention, there are signs you shouldn’t ignore.
Consider these three scenarios:
1. A relaxing evening at home
You’re sitting comfortably in your favourite chair, remote control in your hand, feet up. It’s an evening, and you are relaxing. Suddenly, your heart starts racing. You can almost hear it beating in your ears. You rub your chest and sit up a little, thinking, “What the…?” The sensation eventually goes away, and you breathe a sigh of relief, going back to the programme you were watching. “It’s all good now,” you think, except what you just experienced was an irregular heartbeat.
2. A stroll in the park
You’re taking a stroll in the park. It’s your lunch break, and you wanted to get out to get some fresh air. It’s a nice, warm day with a gentle breeze – quite rare for the UK. Even though you walk slowly, without putting any significant effort, you feel shortness of breath. You stop and take a few deeper breaths, thinking, “Come on, lungs. I’m not running!” After a short while, your breathing goes back to normal, and you go back to enjoying the fresh air. You thought of the lungs first because they have a lot to do with air, but it wasn’t the lungs. Irregular heartbeat can affect the oxygen supply.
3. Meeting a friend
You stopped by the shops to get some milk. On your way out, you bumped into a friend. You’re pleased to see them and chat for a couple of minutes, catching up. Out of nowhere, you feel lightheaded and have to steady yourself. You rest your arm on your friend’s shoulder. You shake your head trying to shake the feeling off. Eventually, it goes away. Your friend asks if you’re okay, and you say, “I think so.” What happened here was the irregular heartbeat made your brain struggle for a minute.
How are you feeling? Are you reading this with your hand still on your chest?
Don’t panic. A single occurrence of any of these scenarios might not be a cause for concern. However, if any, or all, of these happen to you, especially more than once, it’s important to take note, write it down, and speak to your doctor.
Let’s stay heart-happy.
