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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.
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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.
If you’re experiencing what feels like frequent or prolonged episodes of palpitations, or you’re also having symptoms such as chest pain or dizziness when you have these episodes, it’s a good idea to talk to your GP.
1. Chest pain. It’s the classic sign of a heart attack, but how do you know if chest pain is a medical emergency? If your chest pain does not stop after resting for a few minutes and you feel extremely unwell, dial 999 and get an ambulance as soon as possible.
- On This Page
- Causes of Palpitations
- When to Get Medical Help
- Diagnosing Palpitations
- Treating Palpitations
- Preventing Palpitations
- Heart Helpline and Other Support
- You Can Trust Our Health Information
Palpitations can be caused by heart conditions including: 1. arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) 2. cardiomyopathy 3. congenital heart conditions 4. heart attack 5. heart failure 6. heart valve disease. Other causes of palpitations include: 1. alcohol 2. caffeine 3. certain medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter) 4. ectopic beats (early o...
You should make an appointment to see your GP if: 1. your palpitations last a long time, don't improve or get worse 2. you have a history of heart problems 3. you're concerned about the palpitations. You should call 999 if you have palpitations and experience any of the following symptoms: 1. severe shortness of breath 2. chest pain or tightness 3....
Your GP may arrange for you to have a trace of heart (electrocardiogram/ECG) to check whether the heart rate is regular and at a normal rate. This painless test lasts a few minutes. If your ECG shows something abnormal, or your symptoms continue to bother you, you may need to have further tests or heart monitoring over a longer period. Visit our EC...
As palpitations are often harmless, they usually don't need treatment. However, you'll need treatment if tests show your palpitations are caused by an underlying heart condition. The type of treatment you'll have depends on your condition. For example, if you're diagnosed with an arrhythmia, your doctor might prescribe beta blockersto regulate your...
If you don't need treatment, the easiest way to manage your symptoms at home is to avoid the triggers that bring on your palpitations. This might include: 1. avoiding or drinking less caffeinated drinks 2. avoiding or drinking less alcohol (no more than the recommended limit of 14 units a week) 3. avoiding foods and activities that trigger palpitat...
speak to our cardiac nurses by phone, callback, email or online chat on Heart Helpline(Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)sign up to our Heart Matters magazinefor online information packed with health and lifestyle advice.We've followed an eight-step process to make sure this content is reliable, accurate and trustworthy. Learn howwe make our health information reliable and easy to understand. Page last updated: July 2022 Next update due: July 2025
Jul 4, 2024 · Common causes of heart palpitations include some lifestyle factors like: stress. anxiety. panic attacks. lack of sleep. strenuous exercise. drinking too much alcohol. drinking lots of caffeine. smoking. taking illegal or recreational drugs. Medications. Heart palpitations can also be a side effect of some medications.
Apr 9, 2021 · Common causes. How they feel. When to worry. Next steps. Bottom line. Heart palpitations can be temporary sensations. Your heart may be beating faster or harder or skipping a beat out of its...
