Symptom 2: The Irregular Drum – Rapid or Irregular Heartbeats
Just as a drummer maintains rhythm in a band, the heart ensures the rhythm of life through regular heartbeats. In systolic heart failure, the drummer loses its beat, leading to palpitations or irregular heartbeats, a condition medically known as arrhythmias.
The heart, as an organ, is a masterpiece of natural engineering. Its rhythmic contraction and relaxation, in sync with the electrical impulses, ensure a steady supply of blood to the entire body. However, systolic heart failure throws a wrench into this well-oiled machine, disrupting the rhythm.
This disruption doesn’t go unnoticed. The individual might perceive it as their heart racing, fluttering, or skipping beats, often described as palpitations. Some might even experience an unsteady feeling or lightheadedness. These signs point to the heart’s struggle to meet the body’s demand for blood and oxygen.
Understanding the cause behind these palpitations is crucial. The heart, in its wisdom, is trying to compensate for the reduced blood flow by increasing the speed of contractions, thus leading to a rapid heartbeat. However, this compensation mechanism might not always result in regular beats, leading to arrhythmias.
Palpitations or arrhythmias can be quite distressing, adding to the individual’s anxiety and discomfort. However, it’s important to remember that these symptoms are the heart’s response to a challenging situation. It’s doing the best it can under the circumstances.(2)
