What Causes Heart Palpitations? : Know Details

Have you ever felt like your heart is pounding, flip-flopping, or fluttering? If so, it is what we call Heart Palpitations. Most people experience them due to some anxiety. These are very common and usually harmless, and in a very rare case, it can be due to some serious heart conditions. While anxiety is one of the common reasons that make your heart skip a beat, there are other causes behind the same as well. So, let’s dig in to find what it is, what causes it, and how you manage it.

Let’s start with the basics.

What are Heart Palpitations?

Although we have shared that in the beginning, it is called to a feeling when your heart seems to be pounding or fluttering, for better clarity, we can say in simple words that it gives a feeling like your heartbeats are racing, or your heart is skipping a beat.

There is no specific time to experience Heart Palpitations. It can happen at any time, even when you do your regular chores or do nothing, which means resting.

Are Heart Palpitations serious?

We know you must also get worried when your heart seems to skip a beat and a hundred thoughts come to your mind, whether it's due to something serious or do I need to worry. Do you know, as per the studies, 16% of people visit their healthcare provider due to Heart Palpitations which is actually one of the common reasons most people visit a cardiologist in the first place? Heart Palpitations can be bothersome or frightening, usually are not serious, and often go away on their own, but sometimes these could be connected with abnormal heart rhythms that may need immediate medical attention. If you experience Heart Palpitations accompanied by:

• Breathing issues
• Dizziness
• Unusual chest pain
• Fainting

If you experience the same, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes, it could be normal, and sometimes, it could be due to some underlying cause, which, if diagnosed early, can prevent you from the worst. So, although these are normal, they should not be overlooked, especially if they come with other symptoms.

We read it so many times, and it’s normal in most cases. So what exactly causes it and why? Don’t you have the same question? If so, what are we waiting for? Let’s dig in to find:

Possible Causes Of Heart Palpitations:

It could be caused by heart or non-heart factors, and we’ll explore each one of them one by one. So, let’s get started.

Non-Heart Related Causes Of Heart Palpitations Are:

• Stress & Anxiety not only take a toll on your mental health but can also be a cause of concern for your heart health. It can release certain hormones that speed up the heartbeat. Sudden anxiety, loss of feeling, or panic attacks, accompanied by symptoms, mainly can cause a racing heart, sweating, chills, breathing issues, and chest pain. It sometimes feels like you are having a heart attack, which increases the stress, leading to Heart Palpitations.
• Vigorous Exercise is another common cause of Heart Palpitations. Now, most people say that exercise is good, so why does this happen? Well, there is no denying that exercise or a daily workout is essential for good health, but pushing your body beyond a normal limit can naturally make your heart beat faster.
• Too much Caffeine intake, especially if you are sensitive to coffee or have a heart condition, could race your heart, leading to Heart Palpitations.
• Smoking is another common cause of Heart Palpitations. It contains the compound nicotine, which raises blood pressure and speeds up heart rate.
• Hormonal Changes due to pregnancy, periods, or menopause can also lead to Heart Palpitations. The sudden boost in the heart rate due to hormonal changes is common and nothing to be worried about.
• Fever during an illness makes your body use energy at a faster pace, which can set off Heart Palpitations.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause Heart Palpitations.
• Lack of sleep can also trigger Heart Palpitations. According to the study, sleep deprivation is more likely to cause Heart Palpitations, especially in individuals with preexisting heart conditions. So, no matter what, do not miss your daily good night's sleep.
• Certain medications can also cause your heart to skip a beat. Therefore, if you are taking a medication or experiencing Heart Palpitations, discuss it with your doctor so that they can adjust or change the dosage (if necessary).

Heart-Related Causes Of Heart Palpitations:

• Arrhythmia, or Irregular Heart Rhythm, is a condition that causes irregularities in the heartbeat. It can either slow down the beats or race them.
• Heart Palpitations are one of the common symptoms indicating Heart Valve Disease, which occurs when one or more valves don’t work.
• Besides, heart-related conditions, low blood sugar levels, and an overactive thyroid gland can also rev up your heartbeat, leading to Heart Palpitations.
• No matter whether you are experiencing Heart Palpitations due to heart problems or lifestyle choices, getting it checked to confirm the cause is essential to manage the condition accordingly.

Also Read: Signs That May Indicate A Heart Disease: 

https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/heart-test/pay-attention-to-these-early-signs-of-heart-disease/ 

In short, if you do not have any medical condition or risk factor, and you experience Heart Palpitations once in a while that last only a few seconds, you probably don’t need to worry. However, if it is happening more often and is accompanied by other symptoms, it is essential to get it checked with a healthcare provider.

Your doctor may suggest a Heart Test, depending on your age, medical history, symptoms, risk factors, and other clinical evaluations. Ignoring the symptoms can complicate the problem, but recognizing the signs and taking prompt actions can save you from the worst.

Book The Heart Test With Redcliffe Labs!

Redcliffe Labs is a reliable diagnostic service provider from which you can book a Heart Test to assess your heart health and take preventive measures for effective management. Being the best Omnichannel Pan India Diagnostic Service Provider, we provide express sample collection within 45 minutes and serve accurate reports at your fingertips.

Whether you have a medical condition or any symptoms or not, routine heart screening is essential to track heart health, detect problems early, and take charge in time.