Palpitations occur when a person becomes aware of their heartbeat. The heartbeat may feel hard, fast, or uneven in their chest.

Symptoms include a very fast or irregular heartbeat. Palpitations are a sensory symptom. They are often described as a skipped beat, a rapid flutter, or a pounding in the chest or neck.

Palpitations are not always the result of a physical problem with the heart and can be linked to anxiety. However, they may signal a fast or irregular heartbeat. Palpitations can be brief or long-lasting. They can be intermittent or continuous. Other symptoms can include dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating, headaches, and chest pain.

There are a variety of causes of palpitations not limited to the following:

Palpitation may be associated with coronary heart disease, perimenopause, hyperthyroidism, adult heart muscle diseases like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congenital heart diseases like atrial septal defects, diseases causing low blood oxygen such as asthma, emphysema or a blood clot in the lungs; previous chest surgery; kidney disease; blood loss and pain; anemia; drugs such as antidepressants, statins, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, cocaine and amphetamines; electrolyte imbalances of magnesium, potassium and calcium; and deficiencies of nutrients such as taurine, arginine, iron or vitamin B₁₂.

Three common descriptions of palpitation are:

Palpitations often come with other symptoms. Knowing these links can help determine if they are dangerous or harmless. However, these links are not definitive and should be evaluated by a licensed healthcare provider to ensure an accurate diagnosis and proper care.

Palpitations associated with chest discomfort or chest pain suggests coronary artery disease. Palpitation associated with light-headedness, fainting or near fainting suggest low blood pressure and may signify a life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmia. Palpitation that occurs regularly with exertion suggests a rate-dependent bypass tract or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.