Palpitations
Index:
- What are palpitations?
- What do palpitations feel like?
- What causes palpitations?
- What conditions are palpitations a symptom of?
- Are palpitations serious?
- Can palpitations be prevented?
- How are palpitations diagnosed?
- How are palpitations treated?
- What specialist treats heart palpitations?
What are palpitations?
Palpitations are heartbeats that become noticeable all of a sudden, either during activity or rest. People who experience palpitations may be alarmed but most of the time, they're completely safe.
What do palpitations feel like?
Palpitations are heartbeats that feel either too fast or too hard and sometimes they can feel like your heart is skipping a beat. These are felt in your chest, throat, or neck. The sensation can last for seconds or minutes.
What causes palpitations?
Palpitations can result from anxiety, stress, or panic attacks; caffeine intake or nicotine; consumption of illegal drugs; exercise, and fever.
Pregnancy and menopause can also cause heart palpitations.
Medication, including asthma inhalers, antihistamines, antibiotics, and antidepressants, can also cause them. Seek advice from your GP if you are experiencing palpitations caused by medication.
Heavy meals, particularly those rich in fat, sodium, and/or sugar, can cause palpitations. Palpitations can be a sign of food sensitivity if they always happen after eating a certain type of food.
Sometimes, heart palpitations can indicate more serious heart conditions, particularly if they happen frequently.
What conditions are palpitations a symptom of?
Palpitations can be a sign of a serious health condition, for example:
- Arrhythmias
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart failure
- Heart valve problems
- Heart muscle problems
Other medical conditions like thyroid disease, anaemia, or low blood pressure can also result in palpitations.
Are palpitations serious?
Often palpitations are harmless, but if they occur frequently, a medical examination will be needed to rule out underlying heart problems, such as arrhythmia.
If you have a history of heart issues and are experiencing palpitations, you should book a consultation with your GP.
Only if palpitations are experienced in conjunction with breathlessness, dizziness, chest pains and fainting are they considered to require immediate medical attention.
Can palpitations be prevented?
It is possible to prevent palpitations by doing the following:
- Regular moderate exercise
- Avoid anxiety and stress
- Treat underlying diseases
- Avoid tobacco, alcohol and coffee
How are palpitations diagnosed?
Doctors will start by taking a detailed medical history, for this reason, it is important to keep track of your palpitations. Doctors will then establish if there is a family history of heart issues, and perform a physical exam. To rule out possible underlying heart conditions, you may need to undergo further tests like an ECG, a blood pressure test, a stress test, a chest x-ray, or an echocardiogram.
How are palpitations treated?
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the palpitations. If it is caused by anxiety or stress, then these can be managed better. If they are caused by a stimulant, then these can be avoided. If there is an underlying heart condition, then this will have to be treated accordingly.
What specialist treats heart palpitations?
Cardiologists would diagnose and treat heart palpitations.


My child is having heart palpitations: should I be worried?
By Dr Alessandro Giardini
2022-05-25
Just as in some adults, children can have heart palpitations too, where the heart feels like it is beating too hard or too fast, or like it has skipped a beat or even is fluttering. Palpitations may sometimes happen in young children but they are more likely to occur in older children and adolescents. We asked one of our leading London Paediatric Cardiologists, Dr Alessandro Giardini on how to recognise if your child is having heart palpitations and when to take your child to the doctor. See more


Atrial flutter: your comprehensive guide
By Dr Boon Lim
2022-05-24
The human heart usually has a steady rhythm. However, problems can occur if it starts to beat too quickly. Atrial flutter is the sensation of rapid heartbeats and here, leading cardiologist Dr Boon Lim guides you through what this condition is, why it requires treatment, the success rates of treatment and more. See more


Support atrial fibrillation treatment with lifestyle habits
By Dr Saagar Mahida
2022-05-23
Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm abnormality that is treated with curative procedures and medications. However, your lifestyle choices have the power to influence your treatment success. Learn how to support your atrial fibrillation treatment with lifestyle habits, as explained by a leading UK cardiologist and electrophysiologist, Dr Saagar Mahida. See more


What causes fainting?
By Dr Boon Lim
2022-05-23
Syncope is the medical term for fainting, blacking out, or loss of consciousness. Many people have experienced this phenomenon, passing out in a crowd, or on public transport. But why does this happen to certain people? Dr Boon Lim, a leading London cardiologist and expert on syncope explains what causes fainting See more
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Dr Michael John Van der Watt
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Dr Rajan Sharma
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Ultrasound Diagnostic Services
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One Heart Clinic - Cardiology Consulting & Diagnostic Centre
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