Cardiovascular diseases remain widespread. The first symptom of such diseases is usually an increase in the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle. If a rapid pulse is observed frequently, not only in response to stress, physical activity or, for example, overeating, it is recommended to consult a cardiologist. In addition, you definitely need to know how to lower the pulse yourself. This can be done not only with the help of medicines, but also with folk remedies or physiological methods.
Heart rate
Before asking the question: “How to lower the pulse at normal pressure?”, You need to make sure that the indicators are too high and pose a threat. The fact is that the norms of the frequency of contraction of the heart muscle for each age group differ, in addition, in women, the heart usually beats a little faster than in men. So, for newborns, the norm is 140 beats per minute, for younger schoolchildren this indicator can be 100 beats per minute, and for adults (over 18 years old) - from 60 to 80 beats for the same period of time.
The heart rate may be affected by individual characteristics of the body. But too high a pulse, accompanied by malaise, is a symptom of tachycardia and requires treatment. In this case, one can not do without consulting a therapist or cardiologist, because a disease if untreated can cause heart function deterioration.
In some cases, the doctor diagnoses physiological tachycardia. This is a rapid pulse, with which the heart and blood vessels cope without problems. Physiological tachycardia is not accompanied by symptoms of pathology. But even in such a situation, it is necessary to control the heart rate.
Causes of High Pulse
To understand how to reduce an increased pulse, you must first understand the causes of this phenomenon. Knowing the reason, you can try to eliminate it. There are many factors that can trigger the fact that the pulse will be higher than the optimal rate established by doctors.
The main reasons for increasing heart rate are as follows:
- chronic or short-term but excessive fatigue;
- pregnancy period;
- prolonged stay on the legs;
- various diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
- vitamin deficiency, especially this item refers to the lack of B vitamins;
- intense physical activity;
- the release of adrenaline into the blood for any reason;
- the use of certain medications;
- prolonged exposure to the scorching sun, heat stroke;
- drinking alcohol or drugs;
- emotional overstrain, excitement, stress, fear;
- overeating, eating fatty foods in large quantities;
- the presence of excess weight.
In some cases, the pulse may decrease for no apparent reason. The frequency of heart contractions is influenced by gender (in women, normally, the heart beats a little faster than in the stronger sex), age (for young children, a high pulse is characteristic), physiological characteristics (during pregnancy, the heartbeat of the expectant mother increases, especially in the third trimester - this is in the order of things).
Clinical picture
The pulse rate is easy to determine, even if you do not specifically measure its frequency. Usually this condition is accompanied by general weakness, which can occur suddenly and be accompanied by dizziness of various strengths, ringing in the ears, the appearance of a cold sweat, pronounced pulsation of arteries in the temples, neck, hands. Even for relatively healthy people, such symptoms can be dangerous, so this condition cannot be ignored. It is not recommended to start treatment on your own, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Treatment approaches
How to lower the pulse? If this is not a physiological norm for a specific organism (and can it be determined only by a doctor after diagnosis) or is not caused by a state of pregnancy (in this case, a high pulse is also normal, the condition stabilizes after childbirth), then it is necessary to return the pulse to normal values . There are many methods to reduce the pulse at home. You can fix the problem with medical methods, physiological and folk. Also, the doctor often recommends that patients adjust their diet and change their lifestyle. Next, we’ll take a closer look at ways to help lower your heart rate.
Drug therapy
How to lower the pulse? Sedative medicines (i.e., sedatives) are sold at any pharmacy without a prescription. The patient can choose from a huge number of proposals that vary in composition (synthetic or natural, on herbs), the manufacturer (domestic or imported drugs), cost (on any wallet), form of administration (tablets, drops), effectiveness (some can only be obtained by prescription from a doctor) and so on.
But with a high pulse, it is important to choose not just a sedative, but a remedy that affects the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle. Cardiologists, who, like no one else, know how to reduce the pulse, when they jump in the heart rate, they recommend taking:
- "Validol." One tablet needs to be resolved by placing it under the tongue.
- Valerian. Take 20-30 drops of tincture (for an adult) diluted with a small amount of water.
- Corvalol. Mix with 20-30 drops of cold water and drink.
- Motherwort. Drink 30 drops mixed with water.
- "Valocordin." Take 30 drops, diluted with cold water.
These drugs do not affect the cause of the increased heart rate, but will help remove the symptom itself.
It is important to remember that not a single pill begins to act immediately. You can not, without feeling improvement, take the medicine again after a few minutes. The action of tablets or drops can be felt only after 15-35 minutes after administration. If you take a large dose, the frequency of contractions will drop significantly, so it will be necessary not to lower the pulse, but to increase it.
Physiological methods
And if there is no medicine at hand, then how to lower the pulse? You can apply one of the physiological methods. This is especially true under normal pressure, since most tachycardia drugs not only reduce heart rate, but also lower blood pressure. How to lower heart rate under normal pressure? Here are some ways:
- Ashner's test. Close your eyes and press on them with your fingers for thirty seconds. You need to push not very hard, but quite noticeably.
- Neck massage. It is necessary to do massage in the area of the carotid artery, there are many receptors that will help to cope with a rapid pulse.
- Squat and strain your muscles.
- Provoke a cough or gag reflex.
- Lie on a flat surface on the stomach (face down) and remain in this position for 20-30 minutes.
- "Diving dog." Inhale and hold the breath so that the mouth is closed and the nose remains open. Then wash with very cold water, strain as if you need to exhale with effort.
Folk remedies
You can recommend some folk remedies. To lower the pulse? such natural methods will help:
- drink tea with honey and blackcurrant leaves; it is good to eat blackcurrant berries;
- drink a medicinal decoction of rose hips;
- consume 20 drops of hawthorn (fruit extract) three times a day;
- drink tea from hop cones, valerian, lemon balm leaves, dill seeds;
- use the infusion of calendula flowers with motherwort (you need half a tablespoon of raw materials, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 10 minutes, drink thirty minutes before meals two or three times a day);
- drink other infusions and decoctions of herbs that have a calming effect, instead of tea and coffee.
These are the treatment methods that people have used since ancient times, they are very effective, but long-term use is required. You can drink decoctions for the prevention of tachycardia, it is useful to replace with them at least one tea party during the day for those who already have an accurate diagnosis.
Recipes of traditional medicine will be the answer to the question: "How to reduce the pulse in a child?" Many parents are afraid to give children large quantities of drugs, so that with the permission of a doctor, it is possible to carry out therapy with folk remedies.
Lifestyle change
Of course, drugs will help reduce the pulse, but not in all cases they will be able to influence the cause of the problem, so it is necessary to change the lifestyle a little so that the pulse does not go “off scale”. If the heartbeat becomes more frequent when walking, running, climbing stairs and light physical exertion, then this indicates a weakness of the heart. In this case, it is useful to engage in feasible sports. You need to spend at least 15-30 minutes daily in sports. Very useful swimming and walking.
You must also get rid of excess weight. Increased body weight creates an additional burden on the spine and CVS. To cope with many diseases, it is enough to normalize the weight. Important here is the rejection of foods with a high cholesterol content, as it provokes heart problems. It is important to avoid stress, physical overwork. It is necessary to give up smoking and the systematic use of alcohol. These bad habits lead to vasoconstriction and cause heart palpitations. If you do not give up alcohol and cigarettes, then, probably, drug therapy will not bring results.
Diet correction
How to reduce the pulse at home, so that the problem disappears altogether? This requires an integrated approach, including diet correction. First, strong coffee or tea and other foods that excite the nervous system (such as hot spices) should be ruled out. You can replace them with clean water, stewed fruit, herbal teas, and choose dried herbs from spices. Secondly, it is important to reduce salt intake. This product retains water in the body and increases systolic pressure. As a result, the load on the heart increases, the pulse quickens. There is no need to exclude salt altogether, it is enough to refuse or limit pickles and dishes in which there is a lot of salt.
At normal pressure
How to reduce heart rate under normal pressure? As a rule, heart palpitations in this case are associated with overeating, intense physical activity or stress. When overeating, you can take enzymes to help the digestive system, with nervous excitement and stress - sedatives. If the increased heart rate is caused by physical exertion, then the condition goes away on its own, you just have to wait.
If chest pain and dizziness are observed (except for a rapid pulse), then you need to remove narrow and squeezing clothes or unfasten in the area of the chest and neck, apply a towel moistened with cold water to your forehead, hold your breath for a short time and lie down for a while. In the event that seizures occur frequently, you need to see a doctor and change your lifestyle. You may need to take a course of drug therapy.
At high pressure
High heart rate and pressure are symptoms of hypertension. You can reduce the heart rate with medications prescribed by your doctor. This will reduce the pulse.
At low pressure
If the pulse is 100, how to lower it in this case? Usually, an increased heart rate with low blood pressure is accompanied by a feeling of anxiety, excitement, headaches, fear, nausea and bouts of vomiting. The most effective treatment is the use of tinctures of motherwort and Valerian officinalis. You can take Validol or Valocordin, drink a cup of tea with rose hip or currant leaves and honey.
During pregnancy
During pregnancy, palpitations are a common complaint. The symptom is caused by an increase in the body weight of the expectant mother, a deficiency of vitamins and an increase in the overall load on the body. If it is necessary to reduce the pulse during pregnancy, it is not recommended to use drugs (only if they have not been prescribed by a doctor). Respiratory gymnastics, for example, the exercise “Diving Dog” described above, will help to cope with the problem. Good rest and sufficient sleep are also important. If the pulse does not decrease, or such attacks will recur frequently, you need to report a symptom to your doctor. He will choose the therapy suitable for the future mother.
Emergency situations
To quickly reduce the heart rate in emergency situations, when the heart rate reaches 200 beats per minute, there is no time to hesitate. You need to call an ambulance, and before the doctors arrive, try to induce vomiting in the patient. You need to take a deep breath, and then quickly exhale with your mouth closed, and after a few seconds, press your fingers on the inner corners of the eyes. It is helpful to have a light neck massage. These techniques will help to quickly reduce the pulse to acceptable values.