Heart palpitations
A heart flutter is a rapid or increased heartbeat Heart palpitations can be caused by stress, exercise, medications, and more rarely, an illness
A fluttering heart may seem alarming, but it is mostly harmless In rare cases, heart palpitations may be a symptom of another pathology, such as an arrhythmia, and require treatment.
Often the cause of heart palpitations cannot be determined Common causes of heart palpitations are:
- Strong emotions, such as stress or anxiety
- Stressful exercise
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- High temperature
- Hormonal changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy or menopause Arrhythmias can cause a fast heartbeat (tachycardia), a slow heartbeat (bradycardia), or an irregular heartbeat.
When you have heart palpitations, you feel as if your heart:
- Pulses
- Picks up
- Compresses faster
- Compresses harder
You may feel flutters in your throat, neck, and chest. Heart flutter develops both during exercise and at rest It also occurs when standing, sitting or lying down
When to see a doctor
A heart flutter that is brief and lasts only a few seconds does not require investigation If you have had heart disease and your heart palpitations become more frequent or worse, see your doctor He or she may order tests to determine if the heart palpitations are caused by a more serious condition
Seek immediate medical attention if heart palpitations are accompanied by:
- chest discomfort or pain
- heart failure
- acute shortness of breath
- severe dizziness
