How To Slow Your Heart Rate

Whether it be for prevention and/or coping with an anxiety attack, tachycardia, or another medical situation, knowing how to slow your heart rate can be very beneficial. In times of stress, the heart rate can significantly increase leading to other complications such as elevated blood pressure, dizziness, headache, and other symptoms. By slowing the heart rate, these effects can often be reduced, if not entirely eliminated.

1. MEDICATIONS. Those suffering from tachycardia may benefit from prescription medications. However, these medications are not typically used for individuals with occasional or mild tachycardia and other factors may play a role. The cause of the rapid heart beat, severity, duration, and overall health of the individual will help determine how best to slow your heart beat.
2. NUTRITION. What you ingest can be significant when deciding how to best slow the heart rate. Natural stimulants such as caffeine are found in a variety of foods and beverages and can increase the heart rate. It is recommended avoiding caffeine, cocoa, colas, and other products with large quantities of caffeine in order to slow the heart rate.
3. LIFESTYLE. Many of the factors related to heart rate can be controlled and are directly related to lifestyle. This can include the frequency and intensity of exercise, smoking, and even common medications. Decreasing the intensity of workouts, quitting nicotine in all forms, and avoiding medications known to increase the heart rate, such as over-the-counter cold and sinus medications, can often make a difference.
4. MEDITATION. Anxiety-induced tachycardia can usually be combated through meditation. Focusing on breathing, light stretches, and letting the anxiety melt away has been proven effective for slowing the heart rate in certain situations.

References:

Northshore University HealthSystems. Health Encyclopedia: Supra Ventricular Tachycardia. 17, September 2008. Viewed 18, April 2010. http://www.northshore.org/healthresources/encyclopedia/encyclopedia.aspx?Version=&DocumentHwid=ps1684.