Heart palpitations are caused by a variety of factors, which can be broadly categorized into heart-related conditions and other non-heart-related causes.
Heart-related causes:
- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) including atrial fibrillation
- Heart failure
- Heart valve problems
- Cardiomyopathy
- Inherited heart conditions like long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
- Heart attack
- Structural heart diseases and previous heart surgeries
Non-heart-related causes:
- Strong emotions such as anxiety, stress, fear, and panic attacks
- Vigorous physical activity or exercise
- Consumption of stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and recreational drugs (cocaine, amphetamines)
- Medical conditions including thyroid disease (overactive or underactive thyroid), anemia, low blood sugar, fever, dehydration
- Hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause
- Medications such as diet pills, decongestants, asthma inhalers, and some herbal supplements
- Electrolyte imbalances in minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium
- Lack of sleep and excessive stress
- Eating heavy meals or certain foods that may trigger palpitations
Heart palpitations can also be triggered by emotional responses which stimulate adrenaline release, affecting heart rate, or by physiological changes during pregnancy where the heart works harder to pump increased blood volume. Some causes like electrolyte imbalance or medication side effects can directly influence heart electrical activity leading to palpitations.
