Palpitations Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Palpitations

Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile

Palpitations facts

Palpitations can occur without heart disease or as a result of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
The SA node is the natural pacemaker of the heart.
Slow heart rhythms are called bradycardias. Rapid heart rhythms are called tachycardias.
The average normal heart beats at a rate of 60 to 100 times per minute.
Some patients with arrhythmias have no symptoms while others can have symptoms, such as palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
Arrhythmias can occur because of disease of the heart muscle, valves, electrical system, or arteries to the heart (coronary arteries).
Palpitations can be evaluated with testing, such as blood tests, echocardiogram, EKG, Holter monitor, treadmill testing, and tests of the coronary arteries.
Palpitations can be relieved in many patients by stress reduction, quitting smoking, and reduction of caffeine and alcohol.
Some patients have palpitations associated with abnormal heartbeats that can require medications or other medical treatments.

Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 5/25/2012

Next: What are palpitations?

Patient Comments

Viewers share their comments

Palpitations - Symptoms Question: What symptoms did you experience (skipping or fluttering sensations, dizziness, chest pain, fainting) with palpitations?

Palpitations - Effective Treatments Question: What kinds of treatments have been effective for your palpitations?

Palpitations - Causes Question: What was the cause of your palpitations?

Hyperthyroidism and Heart Palpitations

Medical Author: Ruchi Mathur, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr, MD, FACP, FACR

I see a number of patients with hyperthyroidism. Very frequently, their symptoms involve the heart. The most common symptoms are a feeling of palpitations and a sensation of a racing heart beat. These symptoms are due to a physiologic effect of thyroid hormone on the heart. I thought I'd take a moment to explain more about what impact thyroid hormone can have on the heart and why these symptoms result.

Many of the signs and symptoms patients experience when they are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism result from the direct effect of thyroid hormoneson the heart. While heart effects are also seen in hypothyroidism, they are usually much more obvious in hyperthyroidism.

Excess thyroid hormone causes palpitations and some degree of exercise intolerance that is due to an increased heart rate and fatigue.

Share this Article:

Facebook Twitter Email Print

Suggested Reading on Palpitations by Our Doctors

Related Diseases & Conditions

48 articles
- Kidney Failure
  - Kidney failure can occur from an acute event or a chronic condition or disease. Prerenal kidney failure is caused by blood loss, dehydration, medication.
- Low Blood Pressure
  - Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through
- Blood Clots
  - Blood clots can occur in the venous and arterial vascular system. Blood clots can form in the heart, legs, arteries, veins, bladder, urinary tract and
- High Blood Pressure
  - High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg -- a systolic pressure above 140
- Ticks
  - Ticks are known transmitters of disease to humans and animals. Tick-borne diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, tularemia,
- Pregnancy (Week By Week, Trimesters)
  - There are many symptoms involved in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. The first early pregnancy symptom is typically a missed period, but others
- Arrhythmia
  - An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. With an arrhythmia, the heartbeats may be irregular or too slow (bradycardia), to rapid (tachycardia), or too
- Dehydration
  - Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and
- Hyperthyroidism
  - Hyperthyroidism is an excess of thyroid hormone resulting from an overactive thyroid gland. Symptoms can include increased heart rate, weight loss, depression,
- Fainting (Syncope)
  - Fainting, also referred to as blacking out, syncope, or temporary loss of consciousness has many causes. Often a person will have signs or symptoms prior
- Angina
  - Angina is chest pain that is due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. Angina can be caused by coronary artery disease or spasm of the
- Panic Attacks
  - Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing
- Pulmonary Embolism (Blood Clot in the Lung)
  - A pulmonary embolism occurs when a piece of a blood clot from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) breaks off and travels to an artery in the lung where it blocks
- Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)
  - Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is a common problem among men characterized by the consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient
- Emphysema
  - Emphysema is a progressive disease of the lungs. The primary cause of emphysema is smoking. Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency is a rare disorder that has
- Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)
  - Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is also also known as "click murmur syndrome" and "Barlow's syndrome." Mitral valve prolapse is the most common heart valve
- Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
  - Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are premature heartbeats originating from the ventricles of the heart. PVCs are premature because they occur
- Heart Murmur
  - A heart murmur is the sound generated when blood flow within the heart is not smooth. Causes of heart murmurs can be functional, congenital, or caused
- Hypoglycemia
  - Hypoglycemia is a syndrome caused by low blood sugar. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include palpitations, trembling, intense hunger, sweating, nervousness,
- Low Potassium (Hypokalemia)
  - Potassium is an essential electrolyte necessary for cell function. Low potassium (hypokalemia) may be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, ileostomy, colon polyps,
- Heart Attack
  - Heart attack happens when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause chest pain,
- Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Heart Rhythm Disorders)
  - Heart rhythm disorders vary from minor palpitations, premature atrial contractions (PACs), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), sinus tachycardia,
- Atrial Fibrillation
  - Atrial fibrillation is an abnormality in the heart rhythm which involves irregular and often rapid beating of the heart. Symptoms may include palpitations,
- Marfan Syndrome
  - Marfan syndrome is hereditary condition affecting connective tissue. A person with Marfan syndrome may exhibit the following symptoms and characteristics:
- Chest Pain
  - Chest pain is a common complaint by a patient in the ER. Causes of chest pain include broken or bruised ribs, pleurisy, pneumothorax, shingles, pneumonia,
- Aortic Stenosis
  - Aortic valve stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the aortic valve of the heart. The causes of aortic stenosis are wear and tear of the valve in the elderly,
- Heart Valve Disease
  - Heart valve disease occurs when the heart valves do not work the way they should. Symptoms of valve disease include shortness of breath, weakness or dizziness,
- Asthma
  - Asthma is a common disorder in which chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Signs and symptoms
- Fatigue
  - Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes
- See All Related Diseases & Conditions »
Medications

11 articles
Procedures & Tests

9 articles
Pictures, Images & Quizzes

1 articles
Doctor's & Expert's Views

5 articles
Health News

17 articles
Health Features

0 articles

Slideshow Pictures

Featured Slideshow

Image Collection (categories)

Featured Image

See All Quizzes (116)

Featured Quiz

Topic Centers

Health & Living

Featured Topic

Medications

Supplements and Vitamins

Palpitations

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Palpitations facts

Patient Comments

Viewers share their comments

Hyperthyroidism and Heart Palpitations

Suggested Reading on Palpitations by Our Doctors

Related Diseases & Conditions

Medications

Procedures & Tests

Pictures, Images & Quizzes

Doctor's & Expert's Views

Health News

Health Features

Heart Health

From WebMD

Healthy Heart Resources

Featured Centers

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

Palpitations

"What Is Heart Failure?