Heart palpitations are the sensation of an unusually noticeable heartbeat, feeling like it is racing, pounding, fluttering, or skipping. This awareness can manifest in your chest, throat, or neck. While often startling, heart palpitations are common and usually not serious, though they can sometimes signal an underlying issue.
Everyday Triggers
Many common, non-medical factors, often related to lifestyle or emotions, can cause your heart to beat fast and hard. Stress and anxiety, for instance, activate the body’s “fight or flight” response. This reaction triggers adrenaline release, leading to an increased heart rate and a more forceful heartbeat as the body prepares for perceived danger.
Dietary choices and certain substances can also influence heart activity. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, and energy drinks, acts as a stimulant that can accelerate heart rate and cause a fluttering sensation. Nicotine, alcohol, and certain over-the-counter medications like decongestants can also stimulate the nervous system, potentially leading to palpitations. Even large or spicy meals can sometimes trigger these sensations.
Insufficient fluid intake, or dehydration, can cause the heart to work harder to circulate blood, as blood volume decreases. This increased effort can result in a noticeable, faster heartbeat. Lack of adequate sleep or general fatigue can also stress the body, contributing to an elevated heart rate and the perception of palpitations.
Intense physical activity is a normal and expected trigger for a fast and hard heartbeat. During exercise, the heart naturally speeds up to pump more oxygenated blood to the working muscles. Hormonal fluctuations can also play a role, particularly for women, with palpitations sometimes occurring during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause due to changes in hormone levels.
Medical Conditions
Beyond everyday triggers, various medical conditions can lead to a fast and hard heartbeat. Abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias, are a common medical cause. These conditions involve irregular electrical signals that disrupt the heart’s normal beating pattern, leading to sensations like racing, fluttering, or skipped beats. Examples include atrial fibrillation, where the heart’s upper chambers quiver erratically, or supraventricular tachycardia, which involves abnormally fast heartbeats originating in the upper chambers.
An overactive thyroid gland, called hyperthyroidism, can significantly increase the body’s metabolism. This heightened metabolic state directly impacts the heart, causing it to beat faster and more forcefully than usual. Anemia, characterized by a low red blood cell count, also makes the heart work harder to deliver sufficient oxygen throughout the body, potentially leading to palpitations.
Systemic responses to illness, such as a fever or infection, can elevate heart rate as the body’s immune system activates. Low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia, can trigger the release of adrenaline, which also causes the heart to beat faster. Structural issues with the heart, such as certain heart valve problems, can also contribute to palpitations by affecting blood flow dynamics within the heart.
When to Seek Professional Advice
While heart palpitations are often harmless, certain accompanying symptoms or persistent patterns signal the need for professional medical evaluation. Immediate medical attention is crucial if palpitations occur with chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting. These “red flag” symptoms can indicate a more serious underlying heart condition that requires prompt diagnosis and management.
It is also advisable to consult a healthcare provider if palpitations occur frequently, last longer than a few minutes, or worsen over time, even without other severe symptoms. Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, such as known heart disease, diabetes, or thyroid disorders, should also seek medical advice when experiencing new or changing palpitations. A family history of heart problems, especially sudden unexplained deaths at a young age, should also prompt a medical consultation.
When consulting a doctor, you can expect a thorough medical history review and a physical examination, including listening to your heart and lungs. Diagnostic tests may include an electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures the heart’s electrical activity, or a Holter monitor, a portable device worn for a day or more to record heart rhythm during daily activities. Blood tests may also be performed to check for conditions like anemia or thyroid issues. These diagnostic steps help healthcare professionals accurately determine the cause of your palpitations and recommend appropriate treatment or management strategies.