Symptom 8. Palpitations: The Unsettling Symptom of Unstable Angina
Unstable angina may also present itself through palpitations, a sensation where your heart feels like it’s pounding, fluttering, or beating irregularly. Unlike the romanticized idea of a heart skipping a beat, experiencing this in reality is far from poetic. Instead, it’s an alarming sensation that feels like your heart is doing somersaults in your chest.
Imagine sitting down for a peaceful meal, and suddenly you’re acutely aware of your heartbeat. It’s erratic, playing out a frenzied rhythm against your ribcage. It’s as if your heart is beating a war drum, each beat echoing loudly in your ears.
Sometimes, these palpitations come in the form of skipped beats. It’s an uncomfortable pause in the rhythm, a break in the steady drumming of your heart. Like the sudden silence in the middle of a song, these pauses can be jarring, making you painfully aware of each passing second.
In other instances, you might feel an extra heartbeat. It’s an unexpected guest at the party, adding to the chaos. You’re not running a race, but your heart seems to be gearing up for a sprint, adding extra beats to the rhythm.
During these episodes of palpitations, some might experience a pulsating sensation in their neck or throat. It’s as if each heartbeat is resonating through your body, the pulsations creeping up to your throat. This unnerving sensation of your heart beating in your chest, the unsettling palpitations, is the eighth symptom of unstable angina. (8)
