When I was in college, I had a frightening period of heart palpitations. After lots of tests (including wearing a Holter monitor) we figured out that it was most likely stress related. That didn’t make it any less frightening when my heart was thumping away for no apparent reason.
What are heart palpitations? Any irregular or extra heartbeat can be called a palpitation. You may feel a thumping in your chest or a sinking sensation. A person may have them many times throughout the day without even noticing them! Heart palpitations are more easily felt when we lay down — extra blood comes into the chest from the legs and can make the heart beat stronger.
What triggers heart palpitations?
- Anxiety
- Overexertion — especially if you are out of shape
- Perimenopause — hormonal fluctuations cause adrenaline surges and extra heartbeats
- Stimulants like caffeine and alcohol
Heart disease can also cause heart palpitations. If you’re having repeated episodes of heart palpitations, you should talk to your doctor. You may need an EKG or a Holter monitor or other testing to determine if there is something seriously wrong. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if your palpitations come with chest pain or lightheadedness.
More than 99% of the time (according to a leading cardiologist from the University of Miami) heart palpitations are nothing to worry about. Small changes like losing weight and cutting down on caffeine can help cut back on the thumping sensation. Most patients learn to ignore the occasional heart stutter.
Nowadays, I tend to notice my heart palpitations when I’m overheated. It’s a good reminder from my body that I may need to get out of the sun or drink more water. But when I didn’t know what they were or what was causing the thumping, it was a very scary thing.