Are You Sick?

Irregular heart beat

Causes of Palpitations

There are many causes of palpitations. The most serious causes can be life-threatening, but can often be treated with quick diagnosis. Seek medical help right away if your palpitations do not stop within a minute or two. Also, seek help right away if you start to feel dizzy, have chest pain or trouble breathing, or feel like you are going to pass out. Many causes of palpitations are less serious.

  • Heart Disease (serious) is a common and important cause of palpitations. You might notice your pulse (heart rate) has changed if you are wearing a device such as a Fitbit. Abnormal heart beats are called arrhythmias. Some come and go and are harmless. Others are permanent unless treated. They can cause other problems such as clots forming in the heart. These clots can leave the heart and cause a stroke. You should seek help right away if you have palpitations and serious symptoms start to happen. Heart conditions that can cause arrhythmias include:
    • Heart attack and angina
    • Heart valve disease
    • High blood pressure
    • Age-related changes
    • Heart muscle disorders (cardiomyopathy)
    • Congenital heart problems
  • Pulmonary Embolus (serious) occurs when a clot from somewhere in the body (often the legs) travels through the blood stream and gets trapped in the lungs. A large clot can quickly be life-threatening. Symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain and coughing up blood. There is often a fast heart beat and palpitations
  • Caffeine, Alcohol and Smoking. Too much caffeine or alcohol is a common cause. Smoking can also cause palpitations. Using less of these is often all that is needed. Sudden reduction can cause withdrawal symptoms, which may also include palpitations.
  • Medicines:
    • Medicines for ADHD can cause a fast heartbeat.
    • Illegal drugs, such as cocaine, can cause a fast heart rate.
    • Thyroxine, used to treat low thyroid, can cause a fast heartbeat and palpitations.
    • Beta blockers and Digoxin are medicines that are used to slow and/or manage the heart rate. If you don't take the right dose, the heart may become too slow and feel like palpitations.
  • Anemia is a condition where there are not enough red blood cells or the red cells are not carrying enough oxygen. So, the heart has to work harder to push enough oxygen to the tissues. Once the cause of the anemia is found and treated, the palpitations should calm down.
  • Anxiety. Most people feel anxious from time to time. You may feel fearful or tense, but you may also feel symptoms such as dry mouth, sweating or shaking. You may also feel like your heart is racing (palpitations). Some people mistake these symptoms for anxiety. But, if you feel anxious and you can't think what you are anxious about, try checking your pulse or speak to your doctor. Treatment or control of the anxiety will help the palpitations go away.
  • Fever. Heart rate is often higher if you have a fever, so you may feel palpitations. The most common cause of fever is infection. But, other health problems can cause your temperature to rise. Treatment of the cause will help calm the palpitations.
  • Dehydration, Fluid or Blood Loss can lead to a less than normal amount of blood flowing through your body. The heart beats faster to make up for this and you may feel palpitations. Treatment of the cause will help the palpitations to calm down.
  • Overactive Thyroid (hyperthyroidism) is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine. It can make your heart beat race. You will lose weight in spite of having a bigger appetite. You may also sweat and feel weak. There may be changes in the appearance of your eyes. Treatment may be with medicines, radiotherapy and/or surgery.
  • Underactive Thyroid (hypothyroidism) is the opposite of an overactive thyroid. It causes bodily functions to slow down. The pulse rate will be slow and that may feel like palpitations. Treatment is with thyroxine tablets. But if too much is given the effect is the same as having an overactive thyroid.
  • Pregnancy. There are many different reasons why you may get palpitations in pregnancy. These include high blood pressure, low blood pressure, bleeding, dehydration, pain and anemia. Also, as pregnancy progresses, the mother's blood volume is increased and the heart has to work harder to circulate the blood. The pulse is often faster and this may feel like palpitations. Call your doctor if you are pregnant and have palpitations.