Palpitations

Basic Facts

  • Heart palpitations are simply an awareness of the heart beating 
  • Stress, exercise, medication, or a medical condition can cause them.
  • By themselves, palpitations are often benign, but if lasting longer and/or coming with other symptoms, they can be a sign of a significant rhythm abnormality.

 

Palpitations can feel like your heart is skipping, fluttering, pounding, or flip-flopping in the chest. 

  • Skipping beats
  • Fluttering rapidly
  • Beating too fast
  • Pounding
  • Flip-flopping

These sensations can be felt in the throat, neck, or upper chest. They can occur when active or at rest. It's key to note "How long?" and "What else is happening?".

 

 

Often, palpitations coincide with a normal heart beat. Other possible causes include:

  • Strong emotional responses, such as stress, anxiety or panic attacks
  • An abnormal heart rhythm
  • Extra heart beats
  • Depression
  • Strenuous exercise
  • illness with fever
  • Hormone changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy or menopause
  • Too much or too little thyroid hormone
  • Stimulant use, including nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, excessive caffeine (over 400mg in a day), and cold and cough medications that contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine