Heart palpitations feel like an unusual awareness of your heartbeat that can manifest as pounding, racing, fluttering, flip-flopping, or skipping beats. You might sense these sensations in your chest, throat, or neck. Some describe it as feeling like the heart is beating too fast, pounding hard, or having irregular or extra beats
. Common descriptions of the sensation include:
- Racing or beating very fast
- Fluttering rapidly
- Pounding or thumping
- Skipping or missing beats
- Flip-flopping in the chest
Palpitations can occur during activity or at rest and may last from a few seconds to minutes or longer
. While often harmless and related to factors like stress, anxiety, caffeine, or hormonal changes, palpitations can sometimes indicate a more serious heart rhythm problem, especially if accompanied by symptoms like chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or dizziness
. In summary, heart palpitations feel like your heart is beating in an unusual, noticeable way-too fast, irregularly, or forcefully-often causing discomfort or alarm but usually not dangerous unless accompanied by other concerning symptoms
