Heart palpitations can be frightening and arise from seemingly nowhere. But how do you know if they're the byproducts of stress or lifestyle choices or something more serious?
Heart Palpitations; When to Call the Doctor
A heart palpitation is a sensation that your heart has skipped or added beats, or a feeling that you are experiencing irregular or erratic heartbeats. It can feel as if your heart is pounding, racing or fluttering. At times, you may feel these symptoms in the neck, throat or chest. Most palpitations are harmless and resolve on their own but if they don’t…
Seek immediate medical attention if you encounter the following signs – these are symptoms of a more serious heart condition. They are dizziness or lightheadedness; fainting; confusion; breathing difficulty; profuse perspiration; pain in the arms, neck, chest, upper back or jaw; or having a resting pulse rate of more than 100.
If, after medical tests, the doctor cannot find any tangible reason for your heart palpitations, you probably will be told to relax more and that stress can cause heartbeat irregularities.
In fact, stress and anxiety are one of the most common causes of heart palpitations. Unless you are ready to deal with anxiety and calm down, what may happen to you is that you focus on the palpitations, which probably make them worse and will tie you up in a negative feedback cycle.