You often can reduce or prevent changes in
your heart rate or rhythm.
- Prevent fatigue by getting plenty of sleep and
rest. If you become overtired, your changes in heart rate or rhythm may be more
severe or occur more often.
- Cut back or eliminate caffeine,
including coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. Some nonprescription medicines,
such as Excedrin, contain caffeine. Caffeine increases your heart rate and can
cause irregular rhythms.
- Cut back or eliminate alcohol and tobacco,
which also contain substances that increase heart rate and can cause irregular
- Stop using medicines that increase heart rate, such as
cough and cold remedies, nose drops, or allergy relief medicines that contain
pseudoephedrine, epinephrine, or ephedrine.
- If stress affects your
heart rhythm or rate, try relaxation exercises and deep breathing techniques. A
healthy exercise program can help reduce stress. For more information, see the
Knowing CPR could be useful for anyone. Many parents learn CPR so they know what to do if their children need it. People who have family members with a heart problem also should learn CPR. For more information on CPR, see the topic Dealing With Emergencies.