Ebola: Symptoms, treatment, and causes

What You Need To Know About The Latest Outbreak Of Dengue Fever

Roughly 4.7 million people have been infected with dengue fever so far in 2024, an explosion of cases centered in Latin America and the Caribbean that experts warn could grow.

"We're seeing a worrisome trend of expansion and increasing circulation of the virus at the global scale," said Dr. Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec, a professor at Emory University who researches the intersection of ecology, epidemiology and global health.

Heavy precipitation from El Nino and the ongoing effects of human-driven climate change have fostered conditions in which mosquitoes that carry the disease can thrive. Populations in more regions of the world are being exposed to dengue as summers grow longer and hotter summers, especially in urban areas that are home to Aedes aegypti, the type of mosquito that transmits the virus, Vazquez-Prokopec said.

In late March, Puerto Rico issued a public health emergency after about 600 people were confirmed to have dengue fever, leading to hundreds of hospitalizations.

READ MORE: Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic following a sharp rise in dengue cases

People living in and traveling to these areas can take precautions to prevent exposure and further transmission. While vaccines exist to prevent the worst outcomes of dengue fever, there is no cure if someone gets sick.

How many cases have been identified in this outbreak?

So far in the first four months of 2024 alone, more than 4.6 million people in the Americas are estimated to have been infected with dengue fever, said Thais Dos Santos of Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO). That amounts to more cases than were recorded during all of 2023, she said.

How is dengue fever transmitted?

The dengue virus is carried in the gut of female mosquitoes. When the insect bites an infected person and then feeds on someone else, it can spread the infection to that person.

People cannot directly spread dengue to each other.

Places with unreliable access to clean drinking water are particularly vulnerable in part because people may need to collect and store water in vessels, which become the perfect environment for mosquitoes to breed.

What are the symptoms of dengue fever?

Roughly two-thirds of people who are infected with dengue show no signs for disease, Dos Santos said.

But for those who do, symptoms typically develop within two weeks. People most commonly complain of sudden high fever and headache. The illness can be painful, and a person's condition can deteriorate rapidly, Dos Santos said. Symptoms include muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

In more extreme cases, intense abdominal pain and bleeding gums can be signs of plasma leakage and require immediate medical attention.

Who is at risk of severe dengue infections?

There are four known serotypes, or strains, of the dengue virus. Infection with one strain typically leaves the person who was sick with lifelong immunity, but only from that strain, said Dr. Anna Durbin, who directs the Center for Immunization Research at Johns Hopkins University.

If the person gets infected again with a different strain, that can launch a process called antibody-dependent enhancement, where the immune system's collection of antibodies "acts as a chaperone," Durbin said, escorting the virus throughout the body. The person can become extremely ill and may require hospitalization.

Because first-time infections often result in undetected cases with no symptoms or mild ones, many people do not realize they have been exposed. It is upon the second bite and introduction of a different strain that people can get really sick, Vazquez-Prokopec said.

"If there's an outbreak going on, the best thing to prevent severe dengue is to go to the doctor as soon as you feel symptoms," he said.

What treatment is available for dengue fever?

While there is no cure for dengue fever, people experiencing symptoms of infection can work with their health care provider to manage them. This may include taking medication to relieve pain, increasing fluid intake to prevent dehydration and getting plenty of rest.

What can be done to prevent dengue fever?

Use mosquito repellant and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants in areas where dengue is spreading, Vazquez-Prokopec said. Mosquitoes that transmit dengue are day biters, so mosquito nets over beds are a less effective prevention measure (although these fine-mesh nets are recommended to slow the spread of other mosquito-borne illnesses, such as malaria).

"Make sure you don't accumulate standing water in or around your house," Dos Santos said.

In addition to removing standing water when possible, Vazquez-Prokopec said it is important that communities spray for mosquitoes and households use mosquito-repellent coils to deter the insects from feeding on residents.

He added that when traveling to an area where dengue fever is endemic, it's a good idea to wear mosquito repellant for the next three or four days after returning home to prevent introduction of the disease to your community.

One prevention method that has gained attention is the introduction of male mosquitoes infected with the bacteria Wolbachia. When those mosquitoes mate with female mosquitoes, the resulting eggs do not hatch, thus stopping the possible spread of any diseases the insects may carry.

"We cannot give up on vector control," Vazquez-Prokopec said.

Why is this recent outbreak so widespread?

Dengue cases declined between 2016 and 2018 but began an uptick before the COVID pandemic, Durbin said. COVID lockdowns prevented people (and the virus) from circulating, meaning fewer people were getting bitten or had a chance to develop immunity.

But a recent surge of global travel, coinciding with an El Nino year, has translated to a dramatic increase in confirmed and suspected dengue infections, Durbin said.

"In the past two years, it's exploded," she said.

More than 5 million people have developed dengue fever since early 2023, according to estimates released by the World Health Organization in January, and the Americas "reported the largest proportion of the global burden." Confirmed and suspected cases in the Western Hemisphere have more than quadrupled over the last five years.

Will the continental U.S. Experience a significant outbreak?

For now, most people in the continental U.S. Do not need to be concerned about dengue fever, Dos Santos said. During warm weather, a lot of people spend time inside screened-in houses with air conditioning, she said. When they are thirsty, they turn a faucet for water and generally do not need to store rainwater. But that type of infrastructure is not guaranteed in parts of the world that struggle more regularly with dengue fever, she said.

Causes Of Liver Pain And Treatment Options

Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD

Liver pain is typically felt in the upper right abdomen just below the rib cage. Your liver might hurt for many reasons, including acute (sudden) conditions like a liver abscess or liver injury, or chronic (persistent) conditions like cirrhosis (extensive liver scarring), fatty liver disease, or liver cancer.

Some conditions, like viral hepatitis and Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, can cause acute and chronic pain.

Liver pain is often dull and generalized but can be sharp and specific depending on its underlying cause. Blood tests, abdominal imaging, and liver biopsy may be necessary to diagnose the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

This article describes the symptoms and causes of liver pain, including how it is diagnosed and treated. It also explains what you can do to avoid liver pain and when it may be a sign of a medical emergency.

Pain Locator: Where Is My Liver?

The liver is an organ about the size of a football located in the upper right portion of your abdomen just beneath the rib cage and diaphragm (the thin muscle separating your chest and abdominal cavities).

The liver serves over a hundred vital functions in the body, including:

Filtering toxins and wastes from the bloodstream

Breaking down and eliminating old red blood cells

Producing a digestive enzyme called bile

Making clotting factors to help blood clot

Storing and releasing glucose (blood sugar) as needed

Pain arising from the liver may be related to the liver itself, to blood vessels and arteries that service the liver, or to nearby organs that help regulate the flow of bile from the liver (called the biliary tract)

Describing Liver Pain

Although the liver is the largest internal organ in the body, liver pain is often hard to pinpoint and easy to confuse with other types of upper abdominal pain, including stomach or gallbladder pain.

Because the liver doesn't have any pain receptors (nociceptors), any pain felt is usually the result of pressure placed on the membrane surrounding the liver—called the Glisson's capsule—which is rich with nociceptors.

If the liver is injured or infected in any way, the swelling of the organ will activate these receptors, causing a dull, aching, generalized pain that is difficult to locate. This is especially true with chronic conditions like cirrhosis.

Even so, the pain can vary significantly based on the underlying cause. With certain acute conditions, the pain can be sharp and stabbing or cause throbbing waves of pain that come and go. The pain may also sometimes be felt in the center of the abdomen, the lower back, or the right shoulder.

If the pain is due to liver disease, you may also experience signs of hepatitis (liver inflammation), including:

Severe fatigue

Weakness

Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)

Pruritus (itchiness)

Dark urine

Clay-colored stools

Nausea or vomiting

Loss of appetite

Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver)

Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen)

Related: Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis

Chronic Conditions Associated With Liver Pain

Chronic liver conditions tend to cause dull, generalized upper abdominal pain. The pain is often the result of cirrhosis, a condition in which the buildup of scar tissues reduces the overall function of the liver.

Although cirrhosis is usually asymptomatic (without symptoms), it can cause pain as the condition progresses and the liver starts to fail. This is the end stage of liver disease, known as decompensated cirrhosis.

Among the chronic conditions associated with liver pain are viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver disease, portal hypertension, Budd-Chiari syndrome, and liver cancer.

Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of hepatitis. In the United States, the hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C viruses are the primary sources of infection.

In the acute stages of infection, hepatitis A, B, and C can cause pain in the upper right abdomen along with jaundice and other classic signs of hepatitis.

In the majority of cases, the body's immune system is able to clear the virus, often in the absence of any symptoms. But with hepatitis B and C, the infection can sometimes become chronic, causing low-level inflammation and pain that can contribute to the onset of cirrhosis if left untreated.

Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis is liver inflammation caused by heavy alcohol use. It is a later-stage manifestation of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a condition that is largely asymptomatic in the early stages.

Alcoholic hepatitis is the point at which ALD becomes symptomatic due to the progression of cirrhosis. People who develop alcoholic hepatitis typically drink heavily and have been consuming large amounts of alcohol daily for at least 20 years.

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease. Also known as hepatic steatosis, is a type of liver disease that is not caused by alcohol or a virus. It is most commonly associated with obesity and diabetes, both of which can cause fat to accumulate in the liver. The buildup of fat, in turn, causes progressive scarring due to persistent, low-level inflammation.

Fatty liver disease develops over many years, generally affecting adults over 50, Between 20% and 30% of these adults will experience metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The stage at which fatty liver disease turns symptomatic due to the onset of cirrhosis.

Portal Hypertension

Portal hypertension is elevated pressure in the portal vein which carries blood from the heart to the liver. Cirrhosis can cause this by obstructing blood flow to the smaller vessels of the liver. This, in turn, causes blood to back up into the portal vein.

Portal hypertension does not cause pain but can lead to pain as increased pressure causes lymph fluid to leak into the abdomen. As the abdomen starts to swell due to the onset of ascites, there will often be pain and discomfort radiating to the back.

The change in blood pressure can also affect the spleen (an organ near the liver that filters blood), causing a vague but noticeable pain in the upper left abdomen.

Other non-cirrhotic causes of portal hypertension include blood clots, a parasitic infection called schistosomiasis, and a benign tumor called focal nodular hyperplasia.

Budd-Chiari Syndrome

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare disorder in which the hepatic veins that carry blood from the liver become narrowed and/or blocked by blood clots. This causes blood to flow back into the liver, increasing the risk of ascites and portal hypertension.

Symptoms of BCS include upper right abdomen pain accompanied by hepatomegaly. There may also be upper left abdominal pain caused by an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).

The risk of BCS is highest in people at risk of abnormal blood clotting, including those with pregnancy, myeloproliferative disorders, and clotting disorders like antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). In around a third of cases, the cause is unknown.

The severity of symptoms is largely based on the location and number of hepatic veins affected.

Liver Cancer

Liver cancer affects around 40,000 people in the United States each year. The most common form, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), originates in liver cells called hepatocytes. As the tumor grows, pain may be felt in the upper right abdomen and/or radiate to the right shoulder or shoulder blade.

Another type of liver cancer, called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), starts in the cells that line the small ducts (tubes) that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. This obstruction of the ducts can cause sharp, shooting pains not only in the upper right abdomen but also occasionally in the lower right abdomen.

Related: Type of Acute and Chronic Liver Disease

Acute Conditions Associated With Liver Pain

Acute liver pain is characterized by the sudden, severe onset of pain that may clear on its own or with medical treatment. Most cases are the result of a disease, infection, or injury that affects either the liver itself or the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder.

Acute causes of liver pain include:

Liver Abscess

A liver abscess is a pocket of pus that can form in the liver due to bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection. Liver abscesses are more commonly seen in older adults, people with diabetes, and others with suppressed immune systems.

When a liver abscess first develops, the pain will generally be dull and aching and may be accompanied by symptoms like high fever, chills, diarrhea, and hepatomegaly.

If the infection persists, it can lead to the accumulation of pus in the gallbladder, known as acute suppurative cholangitis (ASG). This is an urgent medical condition characterized by sharp, stabbing pains in the upper right abdomen.

Liver Cysts

Liver cysts are fluid-filled pockets most often caused by the malformation of bile ducts. Although the cause of liver cysts is unknown, they may be present at birth or develop later in life in people with certain genetic disorders or parasitic infections.

Liver cysts can occur in isolation or cause multiple cysts to form (known as polycystic liver disease). Although the cysts are usually harmless and asymptomatic, large ones can cause discomfort and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.

However, if a large cyst ruptures, you may experience sudden, severe pain in your upper right abdomen radiating to the right shoulder and chest.

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS), also known as perihepatitis, is a rare condition associated with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). FHCS is characterized by the inflammation of the Glisson's capsule without involvement of the liver itself.

Most cases of PID are caused by a bacterial infection that has spread from the vagina or cervix to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. With FHCS, the inflammation spreads beyond the reproductive organs to the liver and lining of the abdomen (called the peritoneum), often causing them to stick together and form adhesions.

People with FHCS experience upper right abdominal pain, often with pain that radiates to the right shoulder. Fever, chills, headache, and malaise are also common.

Most cases of PID are caused by the bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) gonorrhea and chlamydia. Although most cases are acute, some can persist and cause chronic pelvic pain.

Liver Injury

Liver injuries make up approximately 5% of all emergency room admissions. Because the liver is large and positioned to the front of the abdomen, it is the organ most often affected by blunt force injuries, such as motor vehicle accidents or a fall.

Depending on the severity of the injury, the pain can range from dull to severe, often with pain that radiates to the right shoulder and shoulder blade.

If the liver is lacerated, the loss of blood can lead to hypovolemic shock in which blood pressure drops to dangerous levels. Symptoms include rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, clammy skin, confusion, and unconsciousness. The risk of death is high.

Bile Duct Obstruction

Bile duct obstruction occurs when the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine become blocked. This can lead to deep, aching pain in the upper right abdomen.

If the blockage occurs downstream in the gallbladder, the pain can be sharp and stabbing, coming and going in waves that last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.

Possible causes of a blocked bile duct include:

Cysts or tumors of the intrahepatic bile ducts inside the liver

Cysts or tumors in the common bile duct leading from the liver to the gallbladder

Enlarged lymph nodes in the porta hepatis (a section of the liver where major vessels enter and exit)

Injury from gallbladder surgery

Liver and bile duct worms (flukes)

Gallstones

Related: How to Tell Gallbladder and Liver Pain Apart

Who Is More Likely to Have Liver Pain?

Liver pain is often a sign of an underlying liver disease. Certain lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors can predispose you to liver disease and increase your risk of not only cirrhosis but also liver cancer and liver failure.

These risk factors include:

Related: An Overview of Liver Failure

Diagnosing Liver Pain

Liver pain diagnosis starts with a review of your medical history, including the list of any drugs you take, how much alcohol you drink, your family history of liver disease, and other symptoms you may have.

A physical exam will involve palpation (light touching) of the upper abdomen to check the size of your liver and for any tenderness or pain. Your healthcare provider may also look for signs of hepatitis, including jaundice, abdominal swelling, and easy bruising,

Based on the initial findings, the following tests and procedures may be ordered to help pinpoint the cause of the pain:

Liver function tests (LFTs): This is a battery of blood tests that detects high liver enzymes, a sign of liver disease.

Stool microscopy: This involves the microscopic examination of a sample of stool to look for signs of a parasitic infection, such as liver flukes.

Viral hepatitis serology: This is a comprehensive panel of blood tests that screen for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Abdominal ultrasound: This noninvasive imaging test uses high-frequency sound waves to check for signs of fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, or gallstones.

Computed tomography (CT): This imaging technology composites multiple X-ray images to better detect liver tumors, lesions, cysts, injuries, bleeding, infections, or abscesses.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC): This involves the injection of a contrast dye into the intrahepatic bile duct to check for obstructions when viewed on an X-ray or ultrasound.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This imaging technology generates highly detailed images of soft tissues and can help characterize diseases like hepatitis, portal hypertension, or MASH.

Liver biopsy: This involves the extraction of liver tissue (usually with a hollow-tipped needle inserted through the abdomen) to check for signs of liver cancer.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Liver pain can sometimes be a sign of a medical emergency. Call 911 if you or someone you know experiences:

Treatment for Liver Pain

The treatment of liver pain largely focuses on treating its underlying cause:

Antibiotics are the primary form of treatment for a liver abscess or Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome.

With fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, or portal hypertension, treatment may involve a combination of medications and dietary and lifestyle changes.

Surgical intervention may be needed for bile duct obstruction, Budd-Chiari syndrome, and liver cancer.

To help ease liver pain itself, there are several at-home and over-the-counter (OTC) options:

Avoid drinking alcohol or eating fatty, greasy, salty, or sugary foods that can irritate the liver.

Apply a heating pad or cold compress to the upper right abdomen for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day. Heat is ideal for chronic pain, while cold is good for acute pain and inflammation. An elastic rib belt provides compression that can help ease liver swelling and pain.

Over-the-counter 5% lidocaine patches may provide short-term relief when applied to the upper right abdomen.

Sip ginger or turmeric tea, both of which are thought to ease liver inflammation.

Ask your healthcare provider if Tylenol (acetaminophen) taken at doses no greater than 2 grams per day is reasonable. (The overuse of acetaminophen can cause liver damage.)

If your liver condition is severe and at-home remedies don't help, speak with your provider about the following prescription drug options:

Related: Can You Detox the Liver?

Liver Health and Prevention

The liver has the remarkable ability to regenerate itself when alcohol and other toxins are removed from the system. Doing so may not completely reverse the damage, but it may help slow and even stop disease progression in some people.

Your healthcare provider may recommend the following lifestyle changes to improve the overall health of your liver:

Related: How to Choose Good Foods for Your Liver

Summary

If you have pain in the upper right abdomen just below the rib cage, it may be a result of a liver disease or liver injury. Common causes include viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, bile duct obstruction, liver abscesses or cysts, and liver cancer.

Contact a healthcare provider if you have persistent pain and other liver-related symptoms like jaundice, dark urine, or a swollen abdomen. Your provider can help diagnose and treat their underlying causes and prescribe medications that provide symptomatic relief.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.

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7 Reasons Why You May Get Heart Palpitations And A Headache At The Same Time (and How To Relieve Both)

A throbbing headache is never a fun time. It can creep up on you and totally derail your day, forcing you to put that growing "to-do" list to the side. Add other symptoms like heart palpitations to the mix and you may not only feel annoyed (we see you, pile of tasks) but also a little worried.

But fear not. While heart palpitations and headaches can be caused by many different things, most of them aren't serious, says David Cutler, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Here, learn more about the link between headache and palpitations, and how to relieve a simultaneously pounding head and heart, according to doctors.

You're stressed or anxious

Tension that's left unchecked can affect your body in all kinds of ways. "Stress can lead to tension headaches, while anxiety may cause your heart to beat faster or irregularly," says Dr. Cutler. At the same time, anxiety can cause symptoms like the following, per the Mayo Clinic:

Restlessness

Jitteriness

Sweating

Weakness

Fatigue

Shortness of breath

Dizziness

GI issues like nausea or diarrhea

Another clue you're potentially dealing with anxiety is if you get a racing heart at night, or in moments where you're not distracted.

What to do: Try adding calming activities like yoga, meditation, or journaling to your daily routine, to reduce your stress levels and lower your heart rate. You can also try incorporating exercises aimed at improving your heart rate variability, which may help with palpitations from stress.

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Additionally, it may be helpful to reach out to a mental health professional for more support. Talk therapy, anti-anxiety medication, or a combination of both can help, too, per the Mayo Clinic.

"Stress can lead to tension headaches, while anxiety may cause your heart to beat faster or irregularly." —David Cutler, MD, family medicine physician

You're dehydrated

Not drinking enough water is a known headache trigger, but did you know it can also make your heart beat faster? When you're dehydrated, you might also notice symptoms like fatigue, dry mouth, or darker pee than usual, per the National Library of Medicine.

What to do: The good news is that mild dehydration is usually easy to fix. "Start by sipping water or an electrolyte drink to gently restore your levels," says Laura Natbony, MD, founder and medical director of Integrative Headache Medicine of New York in Manhattan.

If you've been breaking a sweat, or have been  out in hot weather, "taking a break in a cool, shaded area can also provide relief, as can using a cool cloth on the head and neck," she adds.

Seek emergency medical attention for signs of severe dehydration like confusion, fainting, or rapid breathing.

You've had too much caffeine

Overdoing it on the coffee or energy drinks can hurt your head, make your heart race, and leave you feeling jittery and tense. "Caffeine is a stimulant that affects your central nervous system. For some, it can cause the blood vessels in the brain to narrow, leading to headaches," says Dr. Natbony. Too much caffeine can also increase your heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in palpitations, she adds.

What to do: You should start to feel better as the caffeine clears out of your system, which can take several hours, per the National Library of Medicine. In the meantime, drink some extra water—it'll help you avoid getting dehydrated, as caffeine can dry you out.

And if caffeine is causing headache and palpitations, consider cutting back on the amount you drink. Most people can tolerate up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, or the amount in about 32 ounces of coffee, notes the Food & Drug Administration. (The caffeine in energy drinks can vary widely, so check the label before drinking.)

You have an infection

Having a cold or the flu leaves you feeling lousy from head to toe, so it's not unusual to get slammed with a headache and heart palpitations, says Dr. Cutler. "Any illness that causes fever can result in a headache," he adds. And if you end up dehydrated, that could trigger heart palpitations.

What to do: Your game plan can include drinking plenty of fluids to make sure you stay hydrated. Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever—like ibuprofen or acetaminophen—can help keep your temperature down and stave off a headache, too, per the Cleveland Clinic.

You're taking certain medications

Pseudoephedrine, a common OTC decongestant used for coughs and stuffy noses, can sometimes make your heart beat faster, per the University of Iowa. While taking this medication won't necessarily give you a headache, you might be dealing with existing head pain from your allergies or illness.

What to do: If you're a generally healthy person and do not have any existing heart conditions, it's okay to take decongestants as prescribed (or suggested on the label) to relieve congestion. If, however, your heart palpitations last for more 30 minutes, or if you notice symptoms like shortness of breath or lightheadedness, call your doctor. They can let you know whether it's safe to continue taking the medicine, per the Cleveland Clinic.

You're not sleeping well

It's pretty normal to get a headache when you haven't had enough sleep. Too little shut-eye can also make you stressed or tense, which can trigger symptoms like heart palpitations, per the University of Iowa.

On a greater scale, getting proper amounts of sleep is important for your heart health, and can help reduce your risk of things like heart attack and stroke down the line, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.

What to do: A pain reliever like ibuprofen or naproxen (Aleve) can help curb your headache in the short term. But in order to really feel refreshed, aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night, recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can try to achieve this by:

Going to bed at the same time every night

Establishing a relaxing bedtime routine (think: reading, journaling, stretching)

Creating an ideal sleep environment (i.E., making it dark, cool, and quiet in your bedroom)

You have an underlying condition

Sometimes headaches paired with heart palpitations are a sign of a more serious underlying health problem, like a thyroid disorder or anemia, says Dr. Cutler.

One particular condition that can cause both at the same time, called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), is characterized by a rapid change in blood pressure when going from siting or lying down to standing, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Though rare, another condition that can cause both head pain and palpitations is called a cardiac headache (also known as cardiac cephalalgia), which can happen during a heart attack. Common cardiac headache symptoms include a sharp pain on one or both sides of your head, often described as "explosive" or like a "thunderclap," according to a March 2016 review in Acta Cardiologica Sinica.

What to do: If you get headaches with heart palpitations often, let your doctor know. They can run blood work and other tests to rule out and treat any underlying conditions. Treatment for heart palpitations and headache will also depend on the condition you have. POTS, for example, is treated by drinking fluids throughout the day and adding more salt to your diet, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.

And if you think you're having a cardiac headache (from a heart attack), call 911 and get to the nearest ER as soon as possible to be treated.

Can heart palpitations and headache be from COVID?

Any viral illness that makes you dehydrated can end up giving you heart palpitations and a headache, including COVID, says Dr. Cutler. So again, try to keep sipping those fluids when you're sick.

It's also possible to continue having headaches or heart palpitations even after you've recovered from COVID. In that case, your symptoms might be a sign of something called long COVID, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other common symptoms include the following:

Fatigue

Shortness of breath

Joint or muscle pain

Diarrhea or stomach pain

Experts are still not exactly sure why some people get long COVID and others don't, and they're still learning how to best manage it. Despite this, it's best to let your doctor know if you think you're dealing with long COVID. They can run diagnostic tests (like a blood test, liver function test, or chest X-ray) based on your symptoms and recommend possible treatment options, according to the Mayo Clinic.

What causes heart palpitations and headaches after eating?

A headache and heart flutters after eating can happen for a few reasons. "Eating too much in one go can put strain on your body, causing a dip in blood pressure that might result in headaches and heart palpitations," says Dr. Natbony.

For some, specific foods may also be a trigger, especially sugary foods, additives like MSG (found in fast food), and tyramine (an amino acid found in aged cheeses and cured meats), adds Dr. Natbony.

How to prevent headaches and heart palpitations

Preventing a simultaneously pounding heart and head will depend on what's causing both in the first place. That said, here are some general tips you can try to manage headaches with heart palpitations, and feel better overall, per Dr. Natbony:

Stay hydrated: Your fluid needs will likely change depending on your body size, activity level, and the climate you live in. You'll know you're properly hydrated if your pee is clear or pale yellow, per the National Library of Medicine.

Pay attention to your caffeine intake: Drinking 400 milligrams or less of caffeine per day is generally okay, but pay attention to how it makes you feel. If you're too jittery, get a headache, or have palpitations, try drinking a bit less and see if you feel better.

Eat a balanced diet: Staying properly nourished throughout the day can help prevent side effects like headache and heart palpitations. Get plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. And try to "avoid large meals that can strain your system," adds Dr. Natbony.

Exercise regularly: Try to be active every day, but don't push yourself to extremes. "Intense physical activity can trigger palpitations and headaches in some people, too," she adds.

Find ways to manage your stress: Deep breathing, yoga, and meditation are solid go-to's, but try to find what works best for you, and what brings you the most relief.

When to see a doctor

When to go to the doctor about heart palpitations and headache will depend on the duration and severity of your symptoms, and whether you're at increased risk for heart issues.

"Healthy people without heart problems having occasional palpitations should discuss the symptoms with their primary physician. But patients with heart problems should call their cardiologist," says Marc Taub, MD, emergency physician and medical director of emergency services at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California.

And of course, call your doctor right away and go to the nearest ER if you feel severe symptoms like chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or prolonged heart palpitations that aren't going away, adds Dr. Taub.

FAQ Can heart palpitations cause headaches?

"Heart palpitations won't usually make your head hurt," says Dr. Taub. But it's possible to have heart palpitations and then also get a headache from something unrelated. A common scenario is someone with a heart condition that causes palpitations, says Dr. Cutler. That person might take a medication like nitrogylcerin to control their heart beat, but a side effect of that medicine can be headaches.

Bottom line? One won't necessarily cause the other, but related or unrelated factors can contribute to feeling both heart palpitations and headache at the same time.

Why does my head hurt when my heart rate increases?

Chances are you're dealing with an underlying issue that's causing both symptoms. Stress, dehydration, too much caffeine, and too little sleep are common culprits. But because headaches with heart palpitations can sometimes be a sign of something serious, it's a good idea to let your doctor know if you're getting both regularly.

Should I go to the ER for heart palpitations?

Not necessarily. Plenty of non-serious things can make your heart feel fluttery, including stress or anxiety, so there's no need to panic. That said, you should seek emergency medical attention if the palpitations are intense, aren't going away, or happen with chest pain, trouble breathing, or fainting, says Dr. Taub.

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