Palpitations occur when a person becomes aware of their heartbeat. The heartbeat may feel hard, fast, or uneven in their chest. Symptoms include a very fast or irregular heartbeat. Palpitations are a sensory symptom. Palpitations are not always the result of a physical problem with the heart and can be linked to anxiety. Palpitations can be brief or long-lasting. They can be intermittent or continuous.
Other symptoms can include dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating, headaches, and chest pain. Palpitation may be associated with coronary heart disease , perimenopause , hyperthyroidism , adult heart muscle diseases like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , congenital heart diseases like atrial septal defects, [ 4 ] [ 2 ] diseases causing low blood oxygen such as asthma , emphysema or a blood clot in the lungs; previous chest surgery; [ 2 ] kidney disease ; blood loss and pain; anemia ; drugs such as antidepressants , statins , alcohol , nicotine , caffeine , cocaine and amphetamines ; electrolyte imbalances of magnesium , potassium and calcium ; and deficiencies of nutrients such as taurine , arginine , iron or vitamin B The pathophysiology, evaluation, diagnoses, and treatments available for palpitations can vary and should be discussed with a medical professional.
This article will explore the potential causes of palpitations, from benign triggers to more serious underlying cardiac conditions.
This article will also discuss the key steps in evaluating palpitations, including history-taking, physical exams , and diagnostic tests, as well as the various treatment approaches based on the underlying causes. Palpitations often come with other symptoms. Knowing these links can help us tell if they are dangerous or harmless. However, these links are not definitive.
A licensed healthcare professional must evaluate you. This is to ensure an accurate diagnosis and proper care. Palpitations associated with chest discomfort or chest pain suggests coronary artery disease. Palpitation that occurs regularly with exertion suggests a rate-dependent bypass tract or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
