Heart Palpitations

Palpitations can be felt in the chest, throat, or neck. With them, it feels like the heart is pounding, racing, and/or fluttering. It can feel like the heart has skipped a beat.

Heart Health Overview

Causes

Chest Pain

Most of the time, palpitations are not a serious problem. Common causes include:

• Anxiety. Fear. Stress. Hyperventilation.

• Caffeine. Diet pills. Nicotine. Drugs.

• Exercise.

• Medicines. Examples are beta-blockers, some asthma and cold medicines, and thyroid pills.

High Blood Pressure

Angina

Heart Failure

Other causes are:

• An arrhythmia (heart rate or rhythm disorder).

• Mitral valve prolapse (MVP). This is a heart valve problem. It may be treated with medicine. It is not usually a serious condition.

• Anemia.

• Hyperthyroidism.

• Low blood sugar.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause.

SEE ALL ARTICLES ON HEART AND CIRCULATION PROBLEMS

Resources

The American Heart Association

800.AHA.USA1 (242.8721)

www.heart.org/HEARTORG

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Questions to Ask

Question 1

With palpitations, is any heart attack warning sign present?

Get medical care without delay. If symptoms are life threatening go to the ER or call 9-1-1. Don’t call 9-1-1 or use the ER if symptoms do not threaten life. Ask your doctor ahead of time where you should go for a problem that needs prompt care, but not emergency care.

Question 2

Do any of these problems occur?

• Fainting. Feeling faint or dizzy. Cool, clammy skin.

• Pulse of 150 or more beats per minute.

• New onset of a very irregular heartbeat and a history of a heart condition.

• Within 24 hours, palpitations occur 3 or more times. Each one lasts at least 10 minutes.

Question 3

With palpitations, are any of these problems present?

• Signs of hyperthyroidism.

• Symptoms persist for hours or days.

• Heart disease risk factors

• A person with an arrhythmia has new or worse symptoms.

You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.

Use Self-Care / Prevention:

You can probably take care of the problem yourself if you answered NO to all the questions. Use the “Self-Care” measures that are listed. Call your doctor if you don’t feel better soon, though. You may have some other problem.

Self-Care / Prevention

• If palpitations occur with exercise, stop the activity. Rest. When you exercise again, gradually increase how long and how intense you do the activity.

• To relieve stress and anxiety, do relaxation exercises.

• Limit or avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

• Don’t take cold/allergy medicines. Don’t take appetite suppressants.

• Call your doctor if rest doesn’t help or if palpitations occur again and again.

This website is not meant to substitute for expert medical advice or treatment. Follow your doctor’s or health care provider’s advice if it differs from what is given in this guide.

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