Heart palpitations are the sensation of a rapid heartbeat or irregularity in the heart’s rhythm or rate. They may be triggered by stress, exercise, medications, or-in rare cases-an underlying medical condition.
Heart palpitations are usually harmless, although they may feel alarming. However, in some rare cases, they can be a symptom of a more serious heart condition, such as arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), which requires medical treatment.
Symptoms:
Heart palpitations may feel as though your heart is:
- Racing
- Fluttering
- Beating very fast
- Pounding
- Skipping or thumping
You may feel heart palpitations in your throat, neck, or chest. These symptoms can occur while you are active or at rest.
When should you see a doctor?
Heart palpitations usually do not require medical evaluation if they occur infrequently or last only a few seconds. However, if you have a history of heart disease and experience frequent palpitations, or if your palpitations are worsening, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may recommend heart monitoring tests to determine whether the palpitations are caused by a more serious heart condition.
Seek emergency medical care if heart palpitations are accompanied by any of the following:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Fainting
- Severe shortness of breath
- Severe dizziness
Causes:
Often, the cause of heart palpitations cannot be identified. Common causes include:
- Strong emotional responses, such as stress, anxiety, or panic attacks
- Depression
- Strenuous exercise
- Stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, and cold or cough medications containing pseudoephedrine
- Fever
- Hormonal changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause
- Overactive or underactive thyroid hormone levels
In some cases, heart palpitations may be a sign of a serious condition, such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia).
Changes in heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmias) may cause the heart to beat much faster than normal (tachycardia), unusually slow (bradycardia), at a rate different from the normal heart rhythm, or a combination of all three.
Complications:
If heart palpitations are not caused by a heart condition, there is only a small risk of complications. However, when palpitations are due to heart disease, possible complications include:
- Fainting: If the heart rate is very fast, blood pressure may drop, leading to fainting. This is more likely in people with underlying heart problems, such as congenital heart disease or certain valve disorders.
- Cardiac arrest: Rarely, palpitations result from a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder that can cause the heart to stop beating effectively.
- Stroke: If palpitations are caused by a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating normally (atrial fibrillation), blood can pool and form clots. If a clot breaks free, it may block a brain artery, leading to a stroke.
- Heart failure: This may occur when the heart is unable to pump blood effectively for a prolonged period due to a heart rhythm disorder such as atrial fibrillation. In some cases, controlling the heart rhythm or rate can improve heart function.
