Remember that sudden pounding of the heart you felt while running or after climbing a flight of stairs? Heart palpitations are sudden pounding, or irregular beating of the heart, which typically result from physical exertion or due to emotional triggers like anxiety. Many women also experience heart palpitations when they are pregnant. Despite feeling uneasy when the palpitations hit, the condition is fairly common and isn’t fatal (in most cases).
What are Heart Palpitations?
Heart palpitations are categorized by a sudden pounding of the heart when you feel like your heart rate is either too high, the heart is missing beats, or beating irregularly. Not just the chest, most individuals who experience heart palpitations report that they feel their racing heart around the throat or neck too.
In most cases, heart palpitations are a direct consequence of a sudden shock, or anxiety or can even happen when your body is at rest. The racing heart and the allied symptoms often subside within a few minutes and don’t inflict any negative implications on one’s health.
However, heart palpitations can also be a direct symptom of an undiagnosed condition, which might require immediate medical attention.
Who does it Affect?
Heart palpitations are a fairly common condition that affects women more than men. Since this is often tied as a symptom of anxiety and panic disorder, most individuals diagnosed with these mental disorders are also at heightened risk of experiencing heart palpitations.
Additionally, pregnant women often experience a sudden racing of their heart rate as do women who have hit menopause. In general, heart palpitations and tightness in the chest are two of the most common symptoms that propel people to see a cardiologist.
