Heart Palpitations

What happens when your heart beats differently?

Sometimes you might notice your heartbeat in a way that feels unusual or uncomfortable. This is when your heart feels like it's:

• Beating very fast or racing
• Skipping beats or adding extra beats
• Pounding or thumping hard
• Fluttering like a butterfly

You might feel this in your chest, neck, or throat. It can last just a few seconds, several minutes, or sometimes longer.

Why does this happen?

Most of the time, when your heart beats differently, it's nothing serious. Your body is just responding to something going on around you or inside you.

Common everyday causes:

• Hard exercise or physical activity
• Not getting enough sleep
• Feeling stressed or anxious
• Taking certain medicines (check your medicine leaflet)
• Drinking alcohol, coffee, or energy drinks
• Smoking or using nicotine
• Taking recreational drugs

Other times it might happen:

• During pregnancy
• Going through the menopause
• Having low iron levels in your blood
• Having an overactive thyroid gland (when your thyroid works too hard)
• Having a heart rhythm problem

When should you speak to your GP?

You should book an appointment with your GP if:

• Your heart keeps beating differently over several days or weeks
• It's getting worse or happening more often
• It lasts longer than a few minutes each time
• You already have a heart condition
• Heart problems run in your family

When do you need help straight away?

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if your heart is beating differently AND you have any of these:

• Chest pain
• Finding it hard to breathe or feeling out of breath
• Feeling faint or actually fainting

These symptoms together could mean something more serious is happening that needs urgent treatment.

Important: Don't drive yourself to A&E. Ask someone else to drive you or call 999 for an ambulance. Take any medicines you're taking with you.

If you had these worrying symptoms but they've stopped, contact your GP surgery for an urgent appointment, call 111, or use the NHS 111 online service.

What can help?

Often, you don't need any special treatment. The feeling usually goes away on its own.

Things that might help:

• Avoiding or reducing coffee, alcohol, and smoking
• Getting better sleep
• Finding ways to manage stress
• Being more active (but not overdoing exercise)

Your GP might suggest a heart test called an ECG. This involves putting small sticky pads on your chest to check the electrical signals from your heart. It doesn't hurt and helps doctors understand what might be causing the problem.

If tests show your heart rhythm needs help, your GP might suggest medicines or refer you to a heart specialist.

Remember

Most people who notice their heartbeat have nothing serious wrong. But it's always worth speaking to your GP if you're worried or if it keeps happening.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.