PALPITATION OF THE HEART

Category: Circulatory System

Irregular or forcible heart beat action usually
perceived by the person troubled.

Causes. Hysteria, nervous exhaustion, violent emotions or sexual
excesses; overdose of tea and coffee: alcohol or tobacco.

Symptoms. There may be only a sensation of fluttering with that of
distention or emptiness of the heart. There may be flushing of the skin,
violent beating of the superficial arteries, with rapid pulse, difficult
breathing and nervousness. Attack lasts from a few minutes to several
hours.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES.-l. Palpitation of the Heart, Tea of Geranium Root
for. "Make an infusion of geranium root, half an ounce in pint of boiling
water, strain, cool, and give wine glass full three or four times a day."
The geranium root will be found to be an excellent remedy where female
weakness has caused the palpitation of the heart.

2. Palpitation of the Heart, Hot Foot Bath and Camphor for. "Place the
feet in hot mustard water and give two grains camphor every two or three
hours, or two drops aconite every hour. This remedy is very good and is
sure to give relief."

3. Palpitation of the Heart, Valuable Herb Tea for. "All excitement must
be avoided. Where there is organic disease, all that can be done is to
mitigate the severity of the symptoms. For this take the following herb
tea: One ounce each of marigold flowers, mugwort, motherworth, century
dandelion root, put in, two quarts of water and boil down to three pints;
pour boiling hot upon one-half ounce of valerian, and one-half ounce of
skullcap. Take a wineglassful three times a day. Let the bowels be kept
moderately open and live principally upon vegetable diet, with plenty of
outdoor exercise."

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Heartburn, Home Remedy for. "A few grains of table
salt allowed to dissolve in the mouth and frequently repeated will
sometimes give relief." People who have too little acid in the stomach
will be much benefited by this remedy.

2. Heartburn, Soda a Popular Remedy for. "One-half teaspoonful soda in
glass of water. Everybody uses this in the neighborhood."

3. Heartburn, Excellent Remedy for.

"Powdered Rhubarb 1/2 ounce
Spirits of Peppermint. 2 drams
Water 4 ounces
Bicarbonate of Soda 1/2 ounce

Dose--One Tablespoonful after meals."

The bicarbonate of soda relieves the gas and swelling of the stomach,
while the rhubarb has a tonic action and relieves the bowels. The spirits
of peppermint stimulates the mucous membrane.

4. Poor Circulation, Remedy for Stout Person. "Ten cents worth of salts,
five cents worth of cream of tartar; mix and keep in a closed jar. Take
one teaspoonful for three nights, then skip three nights." This is an
old-time remedy known to be especially good, as the salts move the bowels
and the cream of tartar acts on the kidneys, carrying off the impurities
that should be thrown off from these organs.

PHYSICIAN'S TREATMENT FOR PALPITATION. When caused by valvular trouble,
digitalis can be given as above directed under heart failure.

When Caused by the Stomach. From gas or too much food, take salts to move
the bowels. Hot whisky is good when caused by gas; or soda, one
teaspoonful in hot water is also good when gas causes palpitation.

Difficult Breathing. If caused by gas, soda, hot whisky or brandy will
relieve. If caused by too fast beating of the heart, give digitalis as
above directed. If caused by dropsy, the regular remedies for dropsy. If
the dropsy is due to scanty urine you can use infusion of digitalis, dose
one to four drams; or cream of tartar and epsom salts, equal parts, to
keep the bowels open freely.

PHYSICIAN'S CAUTIONS:--Quiet the patient's mind and assure him there is no
actual danger; moderate exercise should be taken as a rule with advantage.
Regular hours should be kept and at least ten hours out of twenty-four
should be spent in lying down. A tepid bath may be taken in the morning,
or if the patient is weakly and nervous, in the evening, followed by a
thorough rubbing. No hot baths or Turkish bath. Tea, coffee and alcohol
are prohibited. Diet should be light, and the patient should avoid
overeating at any meals. Foods that cause gas should not be used. If a
smoker the patient must give up tobacco. Sexual excitement is very
pernicious, and the patient should be warned especially on this point.
Absolute rest for the distressing attacks of palpitation which occur with
nervous exhaustion. In these cases we find the most distressing throbbing
in the abdomen, which is apt to come after meals, and is very much
aggravated by the accumulation of gas.

Diet. A person with heart disease should not bring on palpitation from
over-eating or eating the wrong kind of food. Such a person dare not be a
glutton. The diet must be simple, nutritious, but food that is easily
digested. Any food that causes trouble must be avoided; starchy foods,
spiced foods, rich greasy foods, are not healthy for such a person. The
stomach must be carefully treated by such a patient. The bowels should
move daily. The kidneys should always do good work and pass enough urine
and of the right color and consistency. Stimulants like alcohol, tea and
coffee are not to be used. Weak cocoa is all right in most cases. Hot
water, if any drink must be taken, at meals. Such a patient in order to
live and live comfortably, must take life easy. He cannot afford to run,
to over lift, or over exert, to walk fast upstairs, hurry or to "catch the
car." He must not get angry or excited. Games of all kinds that have a
tendency to make him nervous must be avoided. The same caution applies to
exciting literature. In short, a patient with organic heart disease must
be a drone in the hum of this busy, fast-rushing life, if he would hope to
keep the spark of life for many years. Sleep, rest and quiet is a better
motto for you than the strenuous life.

Next: The Heart
Previous: HEART FAILURE

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PALPITATION OF THE HEART