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- Usually, though, a fast heartbeat is not due to heart disease, because a wide variety of noncardiac factors can speed the heart rate. These include fever, a low red blood cell count (anemia), an overactive thyroid, or overuse of caffeine or stimulants like some over-the-counter decongestants.
www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/should-i-worry-about-my-fast-pulse
People also ask
Why does my heart beat so fast?
Is a fast heartbeat dangerous?
What causes a pounding heartbeat?
How do I know if my heart is beating too fast?
Can a fast heart rate cause tachycardia?
What causes tachycardia?
When you have heart palpitations, your heartbeat feels uncomfortable or unusual. You may feel it in your chest, neck or throat. Your heartbeat may feel like it is: racing or beating very fast. irregular, with skipped or extra beats (ectopic beats) pounding or thumping. fluttering.
- Arrhythmia
Heart rhythm problems happen when there's a fault with the...
- Overactive Thyroid (Hyperthyroidism)
an irregular and/or unusually fast heart rate (palpitations)...
- Iron Deficiency Anaemia
If your diet is partly causing your iron deficiency anaemia,...
- Menopause
Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone...
- Electrocardiogram (Ecg)
An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a test that records the...
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) happens when the...
- Arrhythmia
- Overview
- Response to strong emotions
- Response to certain drugs
- Hormonal changes
- When to contact a doctor
- Summary
A fast heartbeat of over 100 beats per minute can happen for various reasons, including drug reactions, alcohol, stress, and some health conditions. If the cause is unclear, the heart may seem to beat fast for no reason.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the average adult has a resting heartbeat of about 60–100 beats per minute. A heart rate higher than 100 beats per minute is known as tachycardia.
Most causes of a rapid heartbeat are not dangerous. However, a faster than usual heartbeat can be a symptom of an underlying health problem.
This article looks at what can cause a person’s heart to beat faster, treatments, and when to see a doctor.
Stressful emotions, such as anxiety, anger, and fear, can cause a person’s heart rate to increase.
When the body experiences stress, the adrenal glands release epinephrine, or adrenaline. The body has two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney.
The body uses epinephrine to prepare a person for immediate action. Epinephrine can cause a person to experience:
•increased heart rate
•increased blood pressure
•enlarged pupils
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant found in many drinks, such as coffee, tea, certain sodas, and energy drinks. Caffeine powder is also available as a dietary supplement. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) suggest that an adult could have up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day, which is around 4 or 5 cups of coffee. However, the amount of caffeine a person can consume without adverse effects depends on their caffeine sensitivity. A person who has too much caffeine may experience: •insomnia •feeling jittery •anxiety •fast heart rate •upset stomach •nausea •a headache •a feeling of unhappiness Learn more about caffeine here.
Alcohol
A study from 2014 found that even a small amount of alcohol can increase a person’s chances of developing atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a condition that causes a person’s heart to beat irregularly and sometimes abnormally fast. A further study from 2017 tested people’s breath for alcohol concentration levels. Researchers found that as a person’s alcohol concentration level increased, so did their heart rate. Learn how alcohol affects the body here.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical found in cigarettes. According to the AHA, nicotine can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate. Research from 2016 noted that nicotine could increase a person’s heart rate by 10–15 beats per minute (BPM). Researchers also pointed out that a person’s heart rate and blood pressure increased regardless of whether the nicotine was smoked, inhaled, or ingested. Learn more about nicotine here.
An increase in heart rate may occur during pregnancy. This can happen because the heart has to pump blood to the placenta and around the body.
A study from 2019 found that, on average, a pregnant person’s heart rate increased by 7–8 beats per minute (bpm). The same study also found that the average heart rate increased throughout pregnancy. A person’s average heart rate at 10 weeks was 79.3 bpm, which increased to 86.9 bpm by 40 weeks.
Additionally, once a person goes through menopause, they have an increased risk of coronary heart disease. The British Heart Foundation notes that a person in the postmenopausal phase of their life may feel that their heart is racing.
Learn more about hormonal imbalance here.
A fast heart rate is not usually a cause for concern. However, an increase in heart rate may indicate that a person has an underlying health problem. Health problems that can cause rapid heart rate include:
•overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
•low blood sugar
•types of anemia
•postural or orthostatic hypotension, which is dizziness or low blood pressure caused by changing position
•fever
A person can experience an increased heart rate for many reasons. Certain conditions can cause a person to have a rapid heartbeat, but they are not usually serious.
If a person is concerned about their fast heart rate, they should speak to a doctor. A person should seek immediate medical help if they experience any troubling symptoms.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) happens when the electrical system that controls your heart rhythm is not working properly. This causes your heart to suddenly beat much faster. It can then slow down abruptly. A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm).
Palpitations are usually harmless but get help if you are experiencing them on a regular basis. Palpitations feel like your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or like you have missed heartbeats. Palpitations can last seconds, minutes or longer. You may feel this in your chest, neck, or throat.
Jul 2, 2024 · Symptoms of supraventricular tachycardia. If you have supraventricular tachycardia, you’ll usually feel your heart racing in your chest or throat. The heart rate is usually between 140 to 180 beats per minute but can be as high as 250. A normal heartbeat should be 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest.
Jun 3, 2024 · Palpitations make you feel like your heart is beating too hard or too fast, skipping a beat, or fluttering. You may notice heart palpitations in your chest, throat, or neck.
Dec 15, 2023 · In tachycardia, an irregular electrical signal, called an impulse, starts in the upper or lower chambers of the heart. This causes the heart to beat faster. Tachycardia (tak-ih-KAHR-dee-uh) is the medical term for a heart rate over 100 beats a minute.
