My mother

My mother is right now beginning to have a rapid heart rate.  This has happened a couple of times in the past couple of years.  She has gone to the ER for Arrhythmia, and been checked out, and sent home.  Right now, she is 76, and feels it quickening for the past 1 hour.  We have brought her gaterade and I have her eating a bananna.  Should we give her asprin?  How can we help her slow it down so she can avoid the emergency room?  Any advice is appreciated.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

The best thing you can do is go see your doctor.  A rapid heart rate can be caused buy many things and requires a detailed conversation and sometimes tests.  There is probably no way to slow it down now without having a better idea what is causing it.  Obviously if you are very concerned you can go to the ER but I would start by calling the doctor on call for your mother's doctor and see what they recommend.