Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations are moments when you suddenly notice your own heartbeat. It may feel like your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering, skipping beats, or beating unusually hard. You might feel it in your chest, throat, or neck. Palpitations can last seconds or longer and often happen when you are resting or lying still.

Palpitations are very common and most people experience them occasionally. They are often a normal response to exercise, stress, anxiety, excitement, caffeine, or strong emotions, and usually pass quickly without harm. Feeling your heartbeat now and then does not mean something is wrong. Frequent, prolonged, or troubling palpitations, however, are worth checking.

Most palpitations are triggered by everyday factors such as stress, anxiety, panic, vigorous exercise, or stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and some energy drinks. Lack of sleep, dehydration, fever, hormonal changes, and certain medicines can also play a role. In these cases palpitations are usually harmless and resolve once the trigger passes.

Less commonly, palpitations are caused by an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) or another heart condition. This is more likely if palpitations are frequent, last a long time, or come with chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness, or fainting. An overactive thyroid and anaemia can also cause them. A doctor can determine whether the heart needs further evaluation.

A doctor explores palpitations by asking what they feel like, how often and how long they occur, and what triggers them, then examining you. A doctor will typically perform an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) to evaluate your cardiac rhythm, and may recommend ambulatory ECG monitoring (such as a Holter monitor) if episodes are intermittent. Blood tests can check for causes such as thyroid problems or anaemia when appropriate.

When palpitations are harmless, no treatment is usually needed beyond reducing triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and stress, and getting enough sleep. Relaxation techniques can help. If an underlying heart rhythm or other condition is found, treatment focuses on that cause and is arranged with a clinician. Persistent symptoms should always be reviewed.

Seek emergency help if palpitations occur with chest pain or tightness, severe shortness of breath, fainting or near-fainting, or sudden severe dizziness. These may indicate a serious heart problem. Do not wait to see whether symptoms pass, and do not drive yourself; contact your local emergency services straight away for urgent assessment.

Make an appointment if palpitations happen often, last longer than usual, are getting worse, or you have a history of heart problems. Also see a doctor if they cause worry or disrupt daily life. A clinician can record your heart rhythm, look for any underlying cause, and reassure or treat you accordingly.