What is making my heart flutter fast?

I HAVE been getting a lot of palpitations lately. It’s worrying me a bit. How can I find out what’s the matter?

FIRST, when you get palpitations, measure the rate if you can. If it is about 100 beats per minute it is, by definition, tachycardia — medical speak for a fast heartbeat.

Make a note of when you are getting these and how long they last, if they are regular or irregular, plus any associated symptoms, for example, chest pain or weakness.

One of the main things to trigger palpitations is stress, so if something has been worrying you, this could be the reason things have been speeding up.

Lack of sleep can also be implicated in palpitations. Be sure to watch what you drink as alcohol and caffeine can cause this, too. Beware the caffeine content in tea, chocolate and energy drinks. Spicy foods are another trigger, as is smoking cigarettes.

There are, of course, other issues that can impact your heartbeat, for example your hormones, so if you are going through the menopause it may be an issue. The heart can also step up during a menstrual period or during pregnancy.

Prescription medications like blood pressure meds or even asthma inhalers can be the cause. So, too, can over-thecounter medications like sinus tablets. Recreational drugs are also implicated.

Anxiety, anaemia, dehydration, low blood sugar and thyroid problems are medical reasons for palpitations. Cardiac problems also need to be ruled out, such as abnormally fast heartbeats due to problems with the inbuilt heart pacemaker or ‘electrics’. Problems with heart valves and the heart muscle may also be the reason.

Your GP will take your history, examine your heart and lungs, take your blood pressure and is likely to take an ECG tracing of the heart and possibly a blood test. He may want to do a 24hour heart monitor to capture a run of the palpitations.

Thankfully most people who have palpitations do so for a simple reason which can be put right — so don’t worry. It is, however, important to get a review to rule out serious causes. WHY have I have suddenly become a bit deaf? I’m not yet 50 so can’t blame old age.

THE first thing to do is see your GP to ensure this isn’t something simple like a blockage with wax. Removal of wax is simple and restores your hearing.

An infection may be another cause, again something that can be ruled out by reviewing the ear. Trauma to the ear can cause hearing loss as it can result in a perforation of the ear drum.

The cause may not be obvious, so consider things like air travel or using cotton buds, as well as any recent head trauma, as a possible source of your deafness if it is due to a perforation. The good news is a perforation will heal in six to eight weeks and your hearing will be restored.

Bizarrely, medication can be a cause of hearing loss. There are more than 100 drugs which are considered toxic. These include some antibiotics, certain cancer drugs, anti-malaria pills and water tablets. This type of sideeffect is normally only seen when high dosages are taken for lengthy periods.

Meniere’s disease is another possibility. It is a disorder of the inner ear that causes vertigo, tinnitus and deafness. The deafness may come and go and it is normally one-sided.

Other potential causes include a problem with the circulation or an autoimmune condition. Viral infections may also result in deafness.

Exposure to very loud noise can result in hearing loss. Think about this if you have been at a concert or doing DIY, for example, without ear protectors. This is usually temporary and often accompanied by tinnitus. Interestingly, stress can also cause hearing loss so keep this in mind if you have been going through a stressful period.

You need to see your GP for an examination. If the cause is not obvious from looking in your ears then you will need an urgent ENT referral. Imaging by means of an MRI is likely to establish the diagnosis. It is also imperative to assess your hearing through an audiology test.