Heart palpitations occur when you become suddenly aware of your heartbeat. They may feel like a fluttering sensation, a rapid or pounding heartbeat, or the feeling that your heart is skipping beats. While heart palpitations are often harmless, recurring or persistent episodes can sometimes indicate an underlying heart condition that needs medical attention.
What Do Heart Palpitations Feel Like?
People experience heart palpitations in different ways. Common symptoms include a racing or irregular heartbeat, fluttering in the chest, or unusually strong heartbeats that feel out of rhythm. Palpitations may occur during physical activity, at rest, or even at night. Episodes can last for a few seconds or extend over several minutes.
What Causes Heart Palpitations?
Heart palpitations can be triggered by a variety of lifestyle, emotional, and medical factors. Excessive caffeine intake, dehydration, smoking, poor sleep, and certain medications are common triggers. Emotional stress and anxiety are also frequent contributors, especially during periods of high mental or physical pressure.
Hormonal changes can play a role, particularly in women during pregnancy or menopause. In men, palpitations are more often linked to underlying heart rhythm disorders, especially in those with existing cardiac conditions. Medical causes may include thyroid imbalance, anemia, fever, or electrolyte disturbances.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Occasional palpitations are usually not a cause for concern. However, medical evaluation is recommended if palpitations occur frequently, last longer than usual, or are accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, fainting, or shortness of breath.
At Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, our experienced cardiology team provides comprehensive evaluation and advanced treatment for heart rhythm disorders, ensuring timely, accurate, and personalised cardiac care for our patients.
