Overview
Palpitations are the feeling of your heart beating fast, hard, fluttering or skipping. Most of the time they are harmless, set off by stress, caffeine, exercise, fever or lack of sleep. Sometimes, though, they are due to an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that needs attention, especially if they come with dizziness, breathlessness or chest pain. Because the difference matters, palpitations that are frequent, prolonged, or come with these warning signs should be checked.
Symptoms
- A racing, pounding or fluttering heartbeat
- A feeling of the heart skipping or adding beats
- Awareness of the heartbeat in the chest, neck or throat
- At times, light-headedness or breathlessness
- Chest discomfort with the palpitations in some
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for frequent or prolonged palpitations, or if they come with fainting, chest pain or breathlessness.
Emergency — call 108 or go to the nearest hospital
- Palpitations with fainting, severe breathlessness, or chest pain — call 108 immediately
Causes
Stress, anxiety, caffeine, nicotine, fever, exercise, an overactive thyroid, anaemia, and abnormal heart rhythms.