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Paresthesias

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Definition

Palpitation(s) is a sudden awareness of one's own heartbeat. This usually occurs as a sensation in the chest of a rapid, irregular, fluttery or unusually strong heartbeat. The singular version, palpitation, generally refers to feeling a single extra or skipped heartbeat.

Additional Info

This sensation can arise from stress such as fear, anxiety and anger. It is also common when using stimulants such as caffeine, while smoking and while taking certain medications such as decongestants. Palpitation is also a symptom of certain medical disorders, particularly those of the heart or the thyroid gland, as well as drug overdose (see Further Reading below).

If additional symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, fainting, sweating, chest pain etc. are noticed consult your physician or contact your local emergency room.

In some cases, palpitations may be termed idiopathic, meaning that they have no known cause.

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SDS Relevance

This term generally appears on a Safety Data Sheet as a symptom of exposure. Exposure to certain chemicals is known to cause palpitations. Common examples are refrigerant gases such as Freon 114. Check Section 11 (toxicological information) of your SDS to know if palpitations are a symptom of exposure and take precautions to minimize your exposure.

Bear in mind that palpitations have many possible causes, so don't simply assume they result from a workplace exposure. Your doctor or cardiologist can perform a number of different tests to rule out specific causes.

Further Reading

• Palpitations Causes and Symptoms at MedicineNet.com.
• Heart Palpitations at the NIH's MedLine Plus Encyclopedia.
• Heart Palpitations at Temple University Hospital.
• Heart Palpitations Causes, During Pregnancy, Symptoms, and Treatment at eMedicineHealth.
• Heart Palpitations at Healthline.
• Heart palpitations at the Mayo Clinic.
• Heart Palpitations at the Cleveland Clinic.

See also: bradycardia, diaphoresis, tachycardia.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

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