It varies from person to person. When we are at rest it beats at a rate of 60 to 100 beats a minute. It can speed up and slow down depending on our activity levels, yet most of the time we are completely unaware of our heart beating. For more see How Your Heart Works.
Palpitations are very common and most people can experience them from time to time during their lifetime. In most cases they are harmless and not a sign of heart problems.
You may feel these sensations in your throat or neck, as well as in your chest and they can occur at any time but are often most noticeable when you are resting.
They can be alarming, a nuisance and at times can feel very unpleasant. Palpitations are often described as a fluttering feeling in the chest or a sensation of the heart racing or pounding.
Sometimes you may feel skips and jumps, like missed or extra beats. This can last for anything from seconds to hours or even days.
Palpitations accompanied by other symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting or tightness in your chest, can sometimes be a sign of a heart problem and may need further investigation.
Certain situations and lifestyle factors can trigger palpitations and cause them to occur more frequently.
Common triggers include:
Less common triggers:
Palpitations can sometimes be associated with some medical conditions which can make the heart beat faster, stronger or irregularly. These include an overactive thyroid; a low blood sugar level; anaemia (a low blood count); an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
If you have a history of heart disease or your palpitations become more frequent, or if they worsen and are accompanied by other symptoms you may have a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), such as atrial fibrillation (A Fib) or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
Further tests may be needed to assess your heart rate and rhythm such as Holter monitor or echocardiogram.
If your palpitations are caused by an arrhythmia, your treatment will focus on correcting the underlying condition.
See our video demonstration on How to Check Your Pulse to see if it’s regular, and what to do if it is irregular.