Stress, exercise, medication or, rarely, a medical condition can trigger them. Although heart palpitations can be worrisome, they're usually harmless. Rarely, heart palpitations can be a symptom of a more serious heart condition, such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), that might require treatment.
Heart palpitations (pal-pih-TAY-shuns) are feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart. Stress, exercise, medication or, rarely, a medical condition can trigger them.
Although heart palpitations can be worrisome, they're usually harmless. Rarely, heart palpitations can be a symptom of a more serious heart condition, such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), that might require treatment.
Symptoms
Heart palpitations can feel like the heart is:
Beating too fast
Flip-flopping
Fluttering rapidly
Pounding
Skipping beats
Heart palpitations may be felt in the throat or neck as well as the chest. They can occur during activity or at rest.
When to see a doctor
Palpitations that are infrequent and last only a few seconds usually don't need to be evaluated. If you have a history of heart disease and have palpitations that occur frequently or worsen, talk to your health care provider. You may need heart-monitoring tests to see if the palpitations are caused by a more serious heart problem.
Seek emergency medical attention if heart palpitations occur with:
Chest discomfort or pain
Fainting
Severe shortness of breath
Severe dizziness
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Causes
Often the cause of heart palpitations can't be found. Common causes include:
Strong emotional responses, such as stress, anxiety or panic attacks
Depression
Strenuous exercise
Stimulants, including caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, and cold and cough medications that contain pseudoephedrine
Fever
Hormone changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy or menopause
Too much or too little thyroid hormone
Occasionally heart palpitations can be a sign of a serious problem, such as an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
Arrhythmias might cause a very fast heartbeat (tachycardia), an unusually slow heartbeat (bradycardia), a heartbeat that varies from a typical heart rhythm or a combination of the three.
Risk factors
Risk factors for heart palpitations include:
Stress
Anxiety disorder or panic attack
Pregnancy
Certain medicines that contain stimulants, such as some cold or asthma medications
An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
Other heart problems, such as irregular heartbeats, structural heart changes, previous heart attack or previous heart surgery
Complications
For palpitations caused by a heart condition, possible complications may include:
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It is possible to exceed the upper limit of your zone without any ill effects, as long as you do not have coronary artery disease or are at risk for a heart attack. What it may do, though, is leave you with a musculoskeletal injury. Exercising above 85% of your target heart rate could bring you sore joints and muscles.
Question: Is it dangerous for me to go over my maximum heart rate (85%)? I wear a heart rate monitor, and I notice that my heart rate sometimes goes over 85% when I am finishing leg weight training or taking a spinning class.
Answer: First, let's back up a bit. To determine your target heart rate, subtract your age from 220. That's your maximum heart rate per minute. Once you know that, follow these tips:
As a general guide, if you are new to exercise, you should be working at 50-65% of your maximum heart rate. As you progress to an intermediate level, bump it up to 60-75%, then to 70-85% at the highest fitness levels.
If you have vascular disease and are on prescribed medications that lower your heart rate, the above percentages will not apply and you should consult your physician for guidance.
It is possible to exceed the upper limit of your zone without any ill effects, as long as you do not have coronary artery disease or are at risk for a heart attack. What it may do, though, is leave you with a musculoskeletal injury.
Exercising above 85% of your target heart rate could bring you sore joints and muscles. It puts you at risk for overtraining, which may discourage you from exercising, which is altogether unproductive.
The bottom line:
Sticking within your target heart rate zone is recommended.
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