Palpitations (original) (raw)

A heart palpitation is when you suddenly become aware of your heartbeat pounding or beating more quickly than usual. Palpitations are usually harmless but get help if you are experiencing them on a regular basis.

Palpitations feel like your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or like you have missed heartbeats. Palpitations can last seconds, minutes or longer. You may feel this in your chest, neck, or throat.

Palpitations can happen at anytime, even if you are resting or doing normal activities. Although they can be unpleasant, palpitations are common and, in most cases, harmless.

Causes of palpitations

Palpitations can be caused by heart conditions including:

Other causes of palpitations include:

alcohol
caffeine
certain medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter)
ectopic beats (early or extra heartbeats)
hormonal changes (due to pregnancy or menopause)
intense exercise
recreational drugs
smoking
stress and anxiety
triggering foods (such as spicy or rich food).

They can also be caused by other medical conditions like an overactive thyroid and anaemia (lack of iron).

When to get medical help

You should make an appointment to see your GP if:

your palpitations last a long time, don't improve or get worse
you have a history of heart problems
you're concerned about the palpitations.

You should call 999 if you have palpitations and experience any of the following symptoms:

severe shortness of breath
chest pain or tightness
dizziness and light headedness
fainting or blackouts.

Diagnosing palpitations

Your GP may arrange for you to have a trace of heart (electrocardiogram/ECG) to check whether the heart rate is regular and at a normal rate. This painless test lasts a few minutes.

If your ECG shows something abnormal, or your symptoms continue to bother you, you may need to have further tests or heart monitoring over a longer period. Visit our ECG page or speak to your doctor if you're concerned about this and similar tests.

Treating palpitations

As palpitations are often harmless, they usually don't need treatment. However, you'll need treatment if tests show your palpitations are caused by an underlying heart condition.

The type of treatment you'll have depends on your condition. For example, if you're diagnosed with an arrhythmia, your doctor might prescribe beta blockers to regulate your heart rate and rhythm.

Preventing palpitations

If you don't need treatment, the easiest way to manage your symptoms at home is to avoid the triggers that bring on your palpitations. This might include:

avoiding or drinking less caffeinated drinks
avoiding or drinking less alcohol (no more than the recommended limit of 14 units a week)
avoiding foods and activities that trigger palpitations in you (try keeping a symptom diary so you can recognise and avoid triggers)
managing your stress levels
not smoking or using tobacco products.

Living a healthier lifestyle can be hard at first, but it’s important for your overall quality of life. Visit our healthy living hub to read about how you can start to eat healthier and manage things like smoking and stress today.

Heart Helpline and other support

speak to our cardiac nurses by phone, callback, email or online chat on Heart Helpline (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
contact us to talk to our customer care advisors, find your local BHF shop and for any comments, compliments and complaints you may have
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Page last updated: July 2022

Next update due: July 2025