A cardiac stimulant is a drug which acts as a stimulant of the heart – e.g., via positive chronotropic action (increased heart rate) and/or inotropic action (increased myocardial contractility). They increase cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped by the heart over time).

Exercise is also a cardiac stimulant by increasing levels of the sympathomimetic catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine.