Why You’re Suddenly Getting Heart Palpitations

Have you ever had the feeling of fluttering in your chest or your heart racing so fast that you can’t breathe? If so, you may have been feeling a heart arrhythmia, which can happen for various reasons.

A heart arrhythmia is a sensation of the heart fluttering or racing in the chest, throat, or neck. It’s not always a sign of a heart problem, and usually goes away on its own.

If you’re experiencing regular arrhythmias, the Heart Clinic of Hammond team is here to assist with treatment. Dr. Ghiath Mikdadi and Dr. Farid Zayed are board-certified cardiologists who offer Holter monitoring, exercise stress testing, and electrocardiograms to diagnose and treat heart conditions.

Understanding heart palpitations

Heart palpitations are usually a non-serious issue where people feel as though their heart is skipping a beat or fluttering in their chest. In most cases, lifestyle factors cause palpitations, but sometimes they're a sign of a bigger issue.

Heart palpitation symptoms vary from person to person but usually involve a different sensation in the chest, throat, or neck. Some people describe it as a fluttering sensation, while others experience a more pronounced flip or flop in the chest.

For others, heart palpitations feel like their heart is about to beat out of their chest. Some people also describe it as a heartbeat that’s extremely fast or pounding.

Although they usually leave within a few minutes to hours, heart palpitations can become a frequent problem.

Medical reasons for palpitations

In some cases, arrhythmias happen for medical reasons that require further testing and treatment. The most prevalent medical issues that lead to palpitations include:

Heart arrhythmias

Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter are irregular heartbeats that require diagnostic testing and treatment. These can be serious and cause long-term consequences without proper treatment.

Hormone changes

Women going through menopause, pregnancy, or their menstrual cycle may experience heart palpitations due to the rapid changes in hormones.

Thyroid problems

Hyperthyroidism is a common issue that causes heart palpitations due to the nature of the disease.

Other medical issues

Other medical conditions that can cause heart palpitations include fever, low or high blood sugar, changes in blood pressure, and anemia.

Lifestyle causes of palpitations

In many cases, palpitations are short-lived and result from lifestyle factors rather than a genuine heart issue. You may be feeling sudden heart palpitations if you have:

Physical or emotional stress

Anxiety or high stress can lead to heart palpitations. People who experience severe anxiety or panic attacks often describe palpitations. Too much exercise can also make you feel like your heart is racing.

High caffeine consumption

Caffeine is a stimulant and often makes people feel like their heart is fluttering in their chest when they’ve had too much. Limit coffee and other caffeinated drinks if you experience frequent palpitations.

Substance use

Alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs may lead to heart palpitations, especially those that are stimulants.

Certain medications

Various medications have heart palpitations as a side effect, especially cold or allergy meds and diet pills. Other medications that can lead to palpitations include asthma inhalers and drugs.

When to seek help for heart palpitations

No matter what’s causing heart palpitations, they’re scary and can lead to more stress and anxiety. If you experience palpitations more than occasionally, it’s a good idea to come in for an evaluation.

It’s also essential to get treatment if you have heart palpitations accompanied by chest pain, trouble breathing, or feeling lightheaded, which could be a sign of a significant health issue.

Contact the Heart Clinic of Hammond team in Hammond or Amite, Louisiana, today to discuss heart palpitations and treatment, or request an appointment online.