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Heart palpitations are a feeling of fluttering or pounding in your chest or a rapid heartbeat.
Often, heart palpitations harmless. But on occasion, they're a symptom of a more serious heart condition.
Common causes of palpitations include:
More serious causes of heart palpitations include:
You're at a higher risk of having heart palpitations if you have:
A palpitation feels like:
You may feel palpitations in your throat, neck, or chest.
Symptoms may occur when you're active or at rest.
In most cases, heart palpitations don't happen often and last only a few seconds.
Most heart palpitations aren't a serious problem. If they become more frequent or worsen, you should talk to your doctor.
Your doctor will order tests to look for an underlying heart condition that's causing the palpitations.
Some tests and imaging scans you may have include:
You should get medical attention right away if you have heart palpitations along with:
The Cardiac Electrophysiology Program at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute offers cutting-edge testing and treatment for people with irregular heart rates.
Our experts can diagnose heart palpitations and treat the underlying cause.
Most heart palpitations aren't serious and don't require treatment.
To limit them, you can look for ways to avoid triggers, such as:
If a more serious heart problem is causing your heart palpitations, your doctor will design a treatment plan for that condition.
Experts at the UPMC Cardiac Electrophysiology Program offer cutting-edge testing and treatment for people with heart palpitations.
A heart palpitation, a feeling of fluttering or pounding in your chest, is often harmless. Stress, hormones, or even medicine can cause heart palpitations.
However, they sometimes can be a sign of a more serious heart problem.
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