Palpitation Causes

A person having palpitations may experience feelings that his or her heart skips a beat, have extra (premature) heartbeats or feelings that the heart is beating too hard. Sometimes people having palpitations may feel that their heart is beating too fast. These feelings may be sensed on the chest, in the throat or neck.

Palpitations may occur during activity or even when the person is not doing anything. It is a very common cardiovascular condition and more often are not serious or harmful. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, most palpitations are not serious and often go away on its own. However, having palpitations may also mean that there is a problem in the heart, which can only be determined through diagnostic tests done by healthcare providers.

There are many causes of palpitations. Some of these causes are not related to a heart problem and some are actual problems occurring in the heart.

Non heart related causes of palpitations may include strong emotions, such as that occurs during fear, anxiety, and even stress; performing vigorous physical activity; hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, menstruation and perimenopausal period; and use of certain medications and stimulants such as asthma inhalers, medicines used to treat an underactive thyroid and over-the-counter decongestants, which are found in cough and cold medicines.

Sometimes, palpitations may be due to medical conditions that are not related to the heart, such as overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), anemia, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), fever and dehydration.

In some cases, the condition may be triggered by ingestion of caffeine, smoking, alcohol, and use of illegal drugs like cocaine and amphetamines.

While some palpitations may not be serious, other cases may involve the heart itself, which can be serious and life-threatening. Palpitations may be a sign of arrhythmia. In arrhythmia, the heart rhythm or rate becomes abnormal causing the heart to beat faster, beat slowly, or have irregular beats. Arrhythmia can occur because of problems with electrical signals in the heart. Normally, these electrical signals flow in a smooth manner from one area of the heart to the other. In arrhythmia, however, these electrical signals do not work properly as it should.

Arrhythmia can occur as a result of heart attack, heart failure, and problems with the heart valve and muscles.

When palpitations occur with other symptoms, such as dizziness or confusion; lightheadedness; breathing difficulties like shortness of breath; and pressure or tightness in the chest or pain that radiates in the jaw or arm, this may mean that the person is experiencing a heart attack. Heart attack is serious and needs immediate medical attention.

Source:

Palpitations. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).