What it is
Heart palpitations describe the subjective awareness of one's own heartbeat — perceived as pounding, racing, fluttering, or skipping.
Research-supported
Heart Palpitations
The subjective, often alarming awareness of one's own heartbeat — felt as pounding, racing, skipping, or fluttering — which may be benign or indicate a cardiac arrhythmia.
CategoryCardiovascular
Reviewed by Ian Henderson · Advisor
26 March 2026
At a glance
Heart Palpitations at a glance
Commonly experienced as
- People describe an abrupt awareness of their heart beating faster, harder, or irregularly — sometimes with a brief 'missed beat' or flutter sensation. Many report palpitations occurring at rest, particularly when lying down at night. Anxiety-related palpitations often create a secondary fear of cardiac disease, which itself intensifies the experience. Most episodes last seconds to minutes.
Evidence context
Research-supportedSee the evidence snapshotSafety
See staying safeContext
Patterns of Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations describe the conscious, often uncomfortable perception of the heartbeat in a way that is abnormal, noticeable, or alarming. Individuals may describe their heart as racing, pounding, fluttering, skipping beats, or stopping momentarily. This symptom is extremely common — most people experience palpitations at some point — and the vast majority of presentations are benign. Common causes include ectopic beats (premature atrial or ventricular contractions — producing the characteristic 'skipped beat' or 'flip-flop' sensation), sinus tachycardia from anxiety, caffeine, exercise, or fever, and normal exertional heart rate increase perceived as unusual. Pathological causes requiring investigation include paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), ventricular arrhythmias, and bradyarrhythmias. Risk stratification is guided by the presence or absence of syncope, presyncope, chest pain, breathlessness, and known structural heart disease.
Could this be you
People commonly experience
Heart Palpitations shows up differently for everyone. Browse by how it tends to be felt — these are common experiences, not a checklist or a diagnosis.
In the body1 common experience
- People describe an abrupt awareness of their heart beating faster, harder, or irregularly — sometimes with a brief 'missed beat' or flutter sensation. Many report palpitations occurring at rest, particularly when lying down at night. Anxiety-related palpitations often create a secondary fear of cardiac disease, which itself intensifies the experience. Most episodes last seconds to minutes.
Common experiences people describe — not a diagnostic checklist.
The Evidence
Evidence context
What the evidence says about heart palpitations — from clinical investigation to lifestyle and complementary approaches.
Overall pictureHigh evidence base
Most palpitations are benign — but some require urgent assessment
Heart palpitations are extremely common and usually harmless, most often caused by ectopic beats, anxiety, or stimulants. A small but important subset reflect underlying arrhythmias that require clinical investigation and should not be assumed benign without assessment.
When palpitations need urgent attentionCertain combinations of symptoms alongside palpitations require prompt medical assessment — do not delay.
Palpitations accompanied by fainting, near-fainting, chest pain, or breathlessness may indicate a serious arrhythmia and require urgent evaluation. Palpitations occurring during exercise, or in a young person with a family history of sudden cardiac death, also warrant prompt cardiac assessment. These presentations should not be self-managed.
What the clinical evidence showsThe investigation and management of palpitations is well-established and evidence-based.
ECG is the primary investigation, ideally captured during symptoms via Holter or event monitor if the resting ECG is normal. Thyroid function and electrolytes — particularly potassium and magnesium — are routinely checked. Benign ectopic beats are managed with reassurance and lifestyle adjustment. SVT and atrial fibrillation have established pharmacological and procedural management pathways.
When to seek professional assessmentPalpitations that are new, frequent, or associated with other symptoms should be assessed by a qualified clinician.
A GP or cardiologist can arrange an ECG, Holter monitoring, echocardiogram, and blood tests to exclude structural or electrical heart conditions. Self-managing palpitations with supplements or herbal agents before an arrhythmia has been excluded is not appropriate. Professional assessment is the necessary first step.
Complementary approaches and the evidenceSome complementary strategies have plausible physiological rationale for benign, anxiety-related palpitations.
Vagal activation techniques — slow extended-exhale breathing, cold water facial immersion, and the Valsalva manoeuvre — increase parasympathetic tone and can reduce heart rate. These are low-risk and have physiological support. Magnesium supplementation is sometimes explored where deficiency is identified. Evidence for hawthorn and acupuncture in palpitations remains limited; these should complement, not replace, clinical assessment.
Lifestyle factors that influence palpitationsSeveral modifiable lifestyle factors are well-recognised contributors to palpitation frequency.
Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and stimulant medications are common triggers. Anxiety and poor sleep amplify sympathetic nervous system activity and increase palpitation awareness. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance — particularly low magnesium or potassium — are also recognised contributors. Addressing these factors is a reasonable first step for infrequent, benign palpitations.
Safety considerationsNot all palpitations are equivalent — safety depends on context, not symptom intensity alone.
The subjective intensity of palpitations does not reliably indicate their clinical significance. Mild-feeling palpitations can occasionally reflect significant arrhythmias, while alarming sensations are often benign ectopic beats. Using herbal cardiac agents without prior ECG assessment is inappropriate where arrhythmia has not been excluded. When in doubt, professional assessment comes first.
Safety first
Staying safe
General, informational guidance — not diagnostic. A qualified practitioner can advise on your own situation.
- Self-medicating palpitations with herbal cardiac agents without ECG assessment is inappropriate where arrhythmia has not been excluded
References
Evidence & Research
Educational sources that inform this overview. Inclusion is for context and does not imply endorsement.
- Global atlas on cardiovascular disease prevention and control
- Inflammation and atherosclerosis
- Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries: INTERHEART study
Full citations are maintained by the Gyfts editorial team and reviewed periodically.
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