Your heart beats to circulate blood throughout your body. This vital process is driven by a complex interplay of electrical signals and muscle contractions.
The Electrical System
The heart possesses a specialized electrical system known as the cardiac conduction system (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart/heart-beats). This system generates electrical impulses that trigger the heart muscle to contract rhythmically. These impulses coordinate the contraction of the heart chambers, ensuring efficient blood flow.
Muscle Contractions and Blood Flow
Electrical signals cause the heart muscles to contract, pushing blood through the heart's valves and into the circulatory system. The valves, which open and close to regulate blood flow, produce the characteristic "lub DUB" sound of the heartbeat. Oxygen-poor blood is sent to the lungs to pick up oxygen, while oxygen-rich blood is pumped to the body's organs ([My Incredible Body, e.07-Dec-2015]).
Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Several factors can influence the heart's rate and rhythm:
- Physical Activity: Exercise increases heart rate to deliver more oxygen to working muscles.
- Emotions: Stress, anxiety, fear, or anger can trigger a rapid heartbeat.
- Medical Conditions: Certain conditions, such as heart attacks, arrhythmias, and anemia, can affect heart rhythm.
- Substances: Caffeine, nicotine, certain medications, and illicit drugs can stimulate the heart, leading to palpitations.
- Other Factors: Dehydration, low blood sugar, and fever can also cause changes in heart rate. (https://healthcare.utah.edu/cardiovascular/conditions/racing-heartbeat, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-palpitations/symptoms-causes/syc-20373196, https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/heart-palpitations, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003081.htm, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-palpitations/)
Heart palpitations, often described as a racing, fluttering, or pounding heart, can be caused by various factors including stress, anxiety, and certain medical conditions (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17084-heart-palpitations, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-arrhythmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20350668).
