What Causes Heart Palpitations? How Do Heart Palpitations Go Away?

Heart palpitations are a condition that occurs when the heart beats faster, stronger, or more irregularly than its normal rhythm and is mostly associated with stress, physical exertion, caffeine consumption, hormonal changes, or heart rhythm disorders. Depending on the underlying cause, it may be short-term or may require medical evaluation.

Heart palpitations related to stress and anxiety develop as a result of an increase in heart rate due to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Intense psychological tension, panic attacks, sleep irregularity, and excessive caffeine consumption may temporarily accelerate the heart rhythm and lead to a noticeable heartbeat sensation in the chest.

Heart palpitations related to heart rhythm disorders may occur as a result of arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, or extra beats. In such cases, heartbeats are felt as irregular, fast, or skipping, and sometimes dizziness, shortness of breath, or weakness may accompany them.

Reducing and controlling heart palpitations depends on identifying the underlying cause. Reducing caffeine and nicotine consumption, regular sleep, stress management, and adequate fluid intake contribute to relieving symptoms; cardiological evaluation is recommended in persistent or frequently recurring cases.

What Are Heart Palpitations?

Heart palpitations, medically called palpitations, are a person’s abnormal awareness of their own heartbeat. This awareness may be felt as acceleration, slowing, irregularity of heartbeats, or strong beats in the chest. An individual experiencing heart palpitations may describe that their heart beats faster than normal, that they feel a “fluttering” in their chest, or that the heartbeats seem to stop for a moment and then start again. Although this condition is usually harmless, it may sometimes be a sign of a serious underlying health problem.

The regular functioning of your heart ensures that blood carrying oxygen and nutrients is pumped effectively throughout your body. This pump works approximately 60 to 100 times per minute. However, various factors can disrupt this order. Even ordinary elements of daily life such as stress, exercise, and caffeine consumption can lead to temporary changes in heart rhythm. These temporary changes are usually not concerning. However, if heart palpitations recur frequently, last long, or are seen together with other symptoms, it is important to consult a healthcare professional.

The way heart palpitations are felt may vary from person to person. Some describe it as a mild sensation like “butterflies fluttering,” while others experience it as strong beats “as if punched” or “as if the heart will jump out of place.” The intensity of this feeling may differ greatly depending on its cause.

Common Causes of Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations can have many different causes; some are physiological and temporary, while others are a reflection of more serious medical conditions. Understanding these causes is the first step for correct diagnosis and treatment.

Physiological Causes (Usually Harmless)

• Physical Activity and Exercise: During intense exercise, your heart rate naturally increases. This is because your body needs to pump more blood to meet its increased oxygen demand. It may take some time for your heart rate to return to normal after exercise, and during this process you may feel palpitations.
• Emotional Stress, Anxiety, and Panic Attacks: When you encounter a stressful situation or feel anxious, your body gives a “fight or flight” response. This response causes the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline. These hormones increase your heart rate and force, leading to palpitations. The intense palpitations felt during panic attacks are an excessive manifestation of this mechanism.
• Caffeine, Nicotine, and Alcohol Consumption: These substances are substances that stimulate the central nervous system or act directly on the heart. Caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, energy drinks), nicotine in cigarette smoke, and alcohol may cause changes in heart rhythm and lead to palpitations. Palpitations felt especially after alcohol intake are quite common.
• Fever and High Body Temperature: An increase in body temperature raises the metabolic rate, and this causes an increase in heart rate. This is why you may feel palpitations during an illness with high fever.
• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations experienced in women during periods such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause may cause heart palpitations. Overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) may also cause similar effects.
• Certain Medications: Heart palpitations may be seen as a side effect of medications such as cold medicines, asthma inhalers, thyroid medications, and some antidepressants.

Medical Conditions (More Serious Causes)

• Heart Rhythm Disorders (Arrhythmias): Problems in the heart’s electrical system may cause heartbeats to become irregular. Conditions such as atrial fibrillation (AFib), supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and ventricular tachycardia may lead to a severe feeling of palpitations. These conditions may require urgent medical intervention.
• Heart Valve Diseases: Problems in the heart valves may make it difficult for blood to be pumped from the heart, and this may cause the heart to work harder and therefore lead to palpitations. Conditions such as mitral valve prolapse may lead to palpitations.
• Heart Muscle Diseases (Cardiomyopathy): Conditions such as thickening, stiffening, or enlargement of the heart muscle may impair the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively and cause palpitations.
• Anemia: When there are not enough red blood cells or hemoglobin in the body, sufficient oxygen cannot be carried to the tissues. The heart tries to beat faster and more strongly to compensate for this oxygen deficiency, which leads to palpitations.
• Thyroid Problems: Overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) increases the body’s metabolic rate, causing the heartbeats to speed up and leading to palpitations. Underactivity of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) may also sometimes lead to palpitations.
• Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia): A dangerously low blood sugar level may trigger the body’s stress response, causing adrenaline release and palpitations. This condition is especially seen in patients with diabetes.
• Electrolyte Imbalances: Imbalance of minerals such as sodium, potassium, and calcium in the body may affect the electrical activity of the heart, leading to rhythm disorders and palpitations.
• Dehydration (Fluid Loss): Not taking enough fluids may reduce blood volume and cause the heart to work harder, leading to palpitations.
• Sleep Apnea: Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep may cause oxygen levels in the body to drop and heart rhythm to become disrupted.

Symptoms of Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations usually become apparent when a person feels their own heartbeat. However, this condition may also be seen together with other symptoms. These additional symptoms may provide important clues about the seriousness of the underlying cause.

Main Symptoms

• Fast Heartbeat (Tachycardia): The heart exceeding 100 beats per minute. This may feel like riding a roller coaster.
• Irregular Heartbeat: The feeling that heartbeats are irregular, “bouncing,” or “skipping.” It may feel as if one beat is missing.
• Strong Beats in the Chest: The feeling that the heart is striking the rib cage strongly.
• “Fluttering” Sensation: A strange feeling that something is fluttering inside the chest.
• Feeling That Heartbeats Stop and Start Again: This is usually felt due to early beats or pauses and can be quite worrying.

Other Symptoms That May Accompany

These symptoms may especially suggest the presence of an underlying medical condition and may require urgent medical evaluation:

• Shortness of Breath: Sudden onset or exertion-related shortness of breath may be a sign that the heart cannot pump enough blood.
• Dizziness or Blackout: These symptoms may occur when enough blood does not reach the brain.
• Fainting (Syncope): Loss of consciousness is usually an indicator of a serious heart rhythm disorder and requires urgent intervention.
• Chest Pain or Pressure: Especially squeezing chest pain spreading to the left arm may be a sign of a heart attack.
• Sweating: Excessive and unexplained sweating, especially cold sweating, may be a sign of a serious condition.
• Nausea or Vomiting: These symptoms may also be associated with a heart attack or other serious conditions.
• Headache: It may be seen in some cases, especially sudden and severe headache.
• Fatigue and Weakness: Unexplained and constant fatigue may be a symptom of an underlying chronic condition.

If you experience any of these additional symptoms, it is vital to consult a healthcare institution without wasting time. Heart health cannot be neglected.

When Are Heart Palpitations Dangerous?

Not every heart palpitation should cause panic. However, in some cases, this condition may be a sign of a serious health problem and may require emergency medical help.

Situations Requiring Emergency Medical Help

• Frequently Recurring or Long-Lasting Palpitations: If palpitations occur frequently, continue for a long time, and interfere with your daily activities, a doctor’s check-up is essential.
• Severe Chest Pain or Pressure: Squeezing or crushing chest pain felt together with heart palpitations, especially radiating to the left arm, may be a sign of a heart attack.
• Shortness of Breath: Sudden onset or exertion-related shortness of breath may indicate that the heart cannot pump enough oxygen.
• Fainting or Blackout: Loss of consciousness or severe dizziness may indicate a serious problem in blood flow to the brain.
• Excessive Sweating and Nausea: These symptoms, especially if together with palpitations, may be indicators of emergency medical conditions.
• Family History of Sudden Cardiac Death: If there are unexplained sudden death cases at a young age in the family, heart palpitations should be taken more seriously due to genetic predisposition.
• Presence of Known Heart Disease: New or changing palpitation symptoms seen in people previously diagnosed with heart disease should be evaluated more carefully.
• Suspicion of Rhythm Disorder: The feeling of irregular, “skipping,” or “bouncing” heartbeats may indicate an arrhythmia.

These symptoms are signs that your body is giving an alarm. Ignoring these signals may mean allowing potentially life-threatening conditions to progress.

Diagnosis of Heart Palpitations

Doctors use various methods to determine the cause of heart palpitations. These methods aim to reach the most accurate diagnosis by combining the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and physical examination findings.

Medical History and Physical Examination

Your doctor will first have a detailed interview with you. In this interview, the following questions may be asked:

• When did the palpitations start?
• How long did they last?
• How often do they occur?
• What other symptoms do you feel during palpitations (chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, etc.)?
• In which situations do they occur more often (stress, exercise, rest)?
• Which substances do you consume (caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes)?
• Which medications do you use?
• Is there a family history of heart disease?

During the physical examination, your doctor will measure your blood pressure, listen to your heart and lung sounds, check your pulse, and evaluate your general health status.

Diagnostic Methods

1. Electrocardiography (ECG): This test helps detect abnormalities in the heart rhythm by recording the electrical activity of the heart on paper. It is usually performed during the examination and is most useful if it is taken at the moment of palpitations.
2. Holter Monitor: This portable device continuously records ECG for 24 to 48 hours (sometimes longer). In this way, detailed information is obtained about the rhythm and duration of palpitations that occur intermittently. It remains attached while you carry out your daily activities.
3. Event Recorder: This device is manually activated when the patient feels palpitations and records ECG for a short period. It is used to detect less frequent rhythm disorders that the Holter monitor cannot capture.
4. Exercise Stress Test: The patient’s ECG is taken while exercising (usually on a treadmill). This test is performed to understand the causes of palpitations that occur or worsen during exercise.
5. Echocardiography (ECHO): This ultrasound-like test evaluates the structure, dimensions, and pumping function of the heart. It is used to detect structural abnormalities such as heart valve diseases or heart muscle problems.
6. Blood Tests: Tests such as blood count (anemia check), thyroid function tests, electrolyte levels, and cardiac enzymes are performed to determine metabolic or hormonal problems that may cause palpitations.
7. Electrophysiological Study (EPS): This invasive test is performed using catheters to examine the electrical system inside the heart in more detail. It is used especially in the diagnosis and localization of complex rhythm disorders.

Your doctor will choose the appropriate ones among these tests according to your specific condition. Correct diagnosis forms the basis of an effective treatment plan.

How Do Heart Palpitations Go Away?

The treatment of heart palpitations varies greatly depending on the underlying cause. In some cases, lifestyle changes are sufficient, while in others medication therapy or surgical intervention may be required.

Lifestyle Changes and Methods That Can Be Applied at Home

If the triggers of your palpitations are known and there is no serious underlying medical problem, the following methods may help you relax:

• Avoiding Triggers:

Caffeine and Nicotine: Reduce or completely quit coffee, tea, energy drinks, and cigarette consumption. Alcohol: Limit or avoid alcohol intake. Stress Management: Learn and apply stress-reducing techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or light exercises. Adequate Sleep: Regular and quality sleep is important for general health and heart rhythm. * Hydration: Drink enough water. Dehydration may trigger palpitations.

• Vagal Maneuvers (With Doctor Approval!): In some cases, vagal maneuvers that you can apply with your doctor’s recommendation may help stop some rhythm disorders such as supraventricular tachycardia. These include:

Valsalva Maneuver: Taking a deep breath, closing your mouth and nose, and making a straining movement. Putting Your Face in Cold Water: Dipping your face into a bowl of cold water. Coughing: Coughing strongly. Important Note: Do not apply these maneuvers without consulting your doctor and learning how to do them correctly. Incorrect application may be harmful.

• Slow Breathing Exercises: Slow and deep breathing may help slow the heart rate by activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Regular Exercise: Regular light-to-moderate intensity exercises approved by your doctor improve overall heart health and may reduce the risk of palpitations in the long term. However, a doctor should be consulted in cases of severe palpitations that start during or immediately after exercise.

Medication Therapy

If there is an underlying medical condition or lifestyle changes are not sufficient, your doctor may recommend medication therapy:

• Beta Blockers: They control palpitations by making the heart beat more slowly and with less force.
• Calcium Channel Blockers: They slow heart contractions and regulate heart rhythm.
• Antiarrhythmic Medications: They help prevent irregular heartbeats by correcting the electrical activity of the heart.
• Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners): They are used to reduce the risk of blood clot formation in conditions such as atrial fibrillation.
• Anxiety Medications: If palpitations are related to anxiety or panic attacks, your doctor may prescribe anxiety medications.

Surgical and Other Procedures

In some cases, medication therapy is not sufficient or a more permanent solution may be required:

• Cardioversion: It is the procedure of restoring an abnormal heart rhythm to normal using electric shock or medications. It is usually used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
• Catheter Ablation: It is a minimally invasive procedure in which small areas of heart tissue that cause abnormal heart rhythm are destroyed with radiofrequency energy or freezing.
• Pacemaker or ICD Implantation: In cases where the heart rate is too slow, a pacemaker may be required, and in serious rhythm disorders carrying a risk of sudden cardiac arrest, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may need to be inserted.
• Surgical Methods: Rarely, heart surgeries (for example, valve repair or replacement) may be required to eliminate structural problems that cause palpitations.

The treatment plan is individual, and following your doctor’s recommendations ensures that you get the best results.

The Relationship Between Heart Palpitations and Lifestyle

There is an inseparable connection between our heart health and our lifestyle. Our daily habits can directly affect our heart rhythm and play an important role in the occurrence of palpitations.

Dietary Habits

• Balanced Nutrition: Avoiding processed foods, excessive salt, and foods containing saturated fat supports overall heart health. It is important to adopt a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats.
• Caffeine and Stimulants: Caffeine in coffee, chocolate, some teas, and energy drinks may trigger palpitations in sensitive people. Observing and reducing the amount of consumption may be beneficial.
• Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption may disrupt heart rhythm and cause palpitations. Palpitations felt especially after alcohol are common.
• Salt Consumption: High salt intake may increase blood pressure and place additional burden on the heart.
• Water Consumption: Adequate fluid intake allows the heart to work more comfortably by maintaining blood volume. Dehydration is a factor that may trigger palpitations.

Exercise and Physical Activity

• Regular Exercise: Regular exercise at mild and moderate levels strengthens the heart and helps cope with stress. Activities such as walking, swimming, and cycling are ideal.
• Excessive Exertion: Sudden and excessive physical strain may cause palpitations, especially in people with low fitness. An exercise program should be started gradually and the body’s signals should be observed.
• After Exercise: It may take time for the heart rate to return to normal after exercise. Palpitations felt during this process are usually normal, but if they are severe, a doctor should be consulted.

Stress Management and Mental Health

• Chronic Stress: Long-term stress causes the body to continuously release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This condition increases heart rate and raises the risk of palpitations.
• Anxiety and Panic Attacks: These conditions are among the most common causes of heart palpitations. Intense palpitations may be experienced together with symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest tightness.
• Relaxation Techniques: Relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, and tai chi may relieve the negative effects on the heart by reducing stress and anxiety.
• Professional Help: In cases of severe anxiety or depression, getting support from a mental health professional positively affects both mental and physical health.

Sleep Habits

• Insufficient Sleep: Lack of sleep may make the body more sensitive to stress hormones and lead to disruption of heart rhythm.
• Sleep Apnea: Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep may lower oxygen levels in the blood and cause heart rhythm disorders and palpitations. If there are symptoms such as snoring and pauses in breathing during sleep, a doctor should be consulted.
• Regular Sleep Schedule: Going to bed and waking up at the same time every night helps regulate the body clock and improve sleep quality.

Our lifestyle choices have a direct effect on the health of our heart. By making conscious choices, we can reduce the risk of heart palpitations and improve our overall health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes heart palpitations and which lifestyle factors may trigger this condition?

Heart palpitations may result from lifestyle factors such as stress, intense caffeine consumption, insomnia, smoking, and excessive exercise. This condition may cause the heart to beat faster or irregularly than normal, creating a short-term feeling of discomfort.

What causes heart palpitations and how do hormonal changes affect heart rhythm?

Hormonal changes may affect heart rhythm especially in pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, and thyroid diseases. Fluctuations in hormone levels may increase heart rate through the nervous system and cause the feeling of palpitations to occur.

What causes heart palpitations and how is it related to anxiety or panic attacks?

During anxiety and panic attacks, the body gives a “fight or flight” response. In this process, adrenaline release increases and the heart begins to beat faster. This condition may be seen together with palpitations, shortness of breath, and a feeling of tightness in the chest.

What causes heart palpitations and which heart diseases can it be a symptom of?

Heart palpitations may sometimes be a symptom of heart problems such as rhythm disorders (arrhythmia), heart valve diseases, or coronary artery disease. Cardiological evaluation is important especially in frequently recurring or long-lasting palpitations.

How do heart palpitations go away and what methods can be applied at home?

Resting, doing deep breathing exercises, and reducing caffeine consumption may help relieve palpitations. Drinking plenty of water and controlling stress levels may also support the return of heart rhythm to normal.

How do heart palpitations go away and how do breathing exercises regulate heart rhythm?

Slow and controlled breathing may help reduce heart rate by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Especially techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing may enable stress-related palpitations to ease in a short time.

How do heart palpitations go away and in which situations is medical treatment required?

If palpitations recur frequently, last long, or are accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness and chest pain, medical evaluation is required. If the doctor considers it necessary, rhythm-regulating medications or advanced treatment methods may be recommended.

What causes heart palpitations and how can anemia affect heart rhythm?

In anemia, the body may cause the heart to work faster in order to deliver enough oxygen to the tissues. This condition may occur together with symptoms such as heart palpitations, weakness, and shortness of breath.

How do heart palpitations go away and how does diet affect heart health?

Balanced nutrition and adequate magnesium and potassium intake may help maintain heart rhythm. Avoiding excessive caffeine, energy drinks, and high sugar consumption plays an important role in reducing the risk of palpitations.

What causes heart palpitations and which symptoms may require emergency intervention?

If heart palpitations are accompanied by chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or sudden dizziness, emergency medical help may be required. These symptoms may be a sign of serious heart rhythm disorders or risk of heart attack.

Prof. Dr. Kadriye Kılıçkesmez

Prof. Dr. Kadriye Orta Kılıçkesmez is one of the leading figures in the field of Turkish cardiology. She was born on January 24, 1974, in Tekirdağ. After completing her undergraduate education at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, she chose cardiology as her specialty and received her specialist training at the Cardiology Institute of the same university. In 2015, she was appointed by the university to establish the Şişli Etfal cardiology clinic and Angio laboratory. Becoming a professor in 2017, Kadriye Kılıçkesmez established the cardiology clinic and Angio laboratory of Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşçı Hospital in 2020 and ensured that the clinic became a training clinic.