Many of us know the feeling when our heart starts beating faster in our chest.

FunnyModo offers you two simple but effective methods that will help you cope with an increased heart rate. Read, and stay healthy.

With a sharp drop in body temperature, the heartbeat slows down. This is how the nervous system adapts the body to new conditions. The heart will most quickly “respond” to face cooling because it’s closer than the rest of the body parts.

Therefore, when one has tachycardia, it’s recommended to do the following:

• Pour cold water into a deep container. The colder, the better, so if you have ice — add it.
• Hold your breath. If necessary, pinch your nose with your fingers, and immerse your face in the cold water for a few seconds.
• If there’s no suitable container, take water in your hands, and dip your face there. You can also massage the skin on your face with ice cubes, paying special attention to the temple area.

Source: NCBI

This is a way to influence the vagus nerve, which controls the heart rate.

The maneuver is performed as follows:

• Take a deep breath, and strain the abdominal muscles.
• Pinch your nose with your thumb and index finger, closing your mouth and eyes.
• Try to exhale with your nose and mouth closed while continuing to strain the abdominal muscles.

Source: NCBI

None of the methods described above should be used when tachycardia is accompanied by severe chest pain or a sharp sense of lack of air. In such cases, the only way out from the situation is to call an ambulance.

And one more thing. An increased heartbeat against a background of some kind of load — for example, strong excitement or exercises for stomach muscles — is a normal reaction of the body. If tachycardia occurs without obvious external causes, this can be a sign of a serious illness, so you need to visit a doctor.

Illustrator Yekaterina Ragozina for BrightSide.me
Based on materials from WebMD