Have you ever felt your heart suddenly race, flutter, pound or seem to skip a beat? Changes in the way your heartbeat feels can be unsettling, especially when they happen without warning. Sometimes these sensations are temporary and harmless, while in other situations they may be linked to an underlying heart or rhythm condition.
Your heartbeat naturally changes with exercise, emotions, illness and other everyday factors. However, repeated or unexplained changes deserve attention, particularly when they occur with symptoms such as chest discomfort, dizziness or difficulty breathing.
Understanding what may be behind these sensations can help you decide when monitoring is enough and when professional assessment is appropriate. COR Cardiology provides specialist cardiac assessment to help patients understand their symptoms and identify possible heart rhythm problems.
What Are Heart Palpitations?
Heart palpitations describe an awareness of your heartbeat. You may notice your heart beating faster, harder, irregularly or differently from normal. Some people describe the sensation as fluttering, pounding, racing or a feeling that the heart has skipped a beat.
Palpitations are common and are often not serious, but they can sometimes be associated with heart conditions or abnormal rhythms.
What Do Heart Palpitations Feel Like?
People can experience palpitations differently. You might notice:
- A racing heartbeat
- A fluttering feeling in the chest
- A pounding heartbeat
- A sensation that the heart has skipped a beat
- Extra or irregular beats
- A heartbeat that suddenly becomes very noticeable
- A rapid pulse after exercise or stress
The sensation may last for only a few seconds or continue for longer. Keeping track of when it happens, how long it lasts and what you were doing at the time can help your doctor assess the possible cause.
What Causes Heart Palpitations?
There are many possible causes, and experiencing palpitations does not automatically mean you have heart disease.
Common triggers can include:
- Stress or anxiety
- Lack of sleep
- Strenuous exercise
- Fever or illness
- Dehydration
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Some medicines
- Hormonal changes
- Low blood sugar
- Electrolyte changes
In some cases, palpitations can be associated with an underlying heart rhythm condition. This is why frequent, persistent or unexplained symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Can Coffee Cause Heart Palpitations?
For some people, coffee and heart palpitations may be connected. Caffeine can stimulate the nervous system and may make some people more aware of their heartbeat or trigger symptoms.
This does not mean everyone with palpitations needs to stop drinking coffee. If you notice that symptoms repeatedly occur after coffee or other caffeinated drinks, discuss the pattern with your doctor.
Can Heart Rhythm Problems Cause Palpitations?
Yes. Some palpitations are caused by changes in the electrical activity of the heart. These are commonly described as heart rhythm problems or arrhythmias.
What Are Premature Ventricular Contractions?
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, are early heartbeats that begin in the lower chambers of the heart. They can feel like a skipped beat, followed by a stronger beat.
Occasional extra beats can occur in otherwise healthy people. However, frequent PVCs or symptoms occurring alongside fainting, chest pain or breathlessness should be assessed.
What Are Abnormal Heart Rhythm Symptoms?
Abnormal heart rhythm symptoms can vary depending on the type and duration of the rhythm change. They may include:
- Racing or irregular heartbeat
- Fluttering in the chest
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Tiredness
- Reduced exercise tolerance
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Fainting or near-fainting
Not everyone with an arrhythmia experiences obvious symptoms. Healthdirect recommends seeing a doctor if you notice your heartbeat becoming irregular, too fast or too slow.
Could Palpitations Be Related to Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation, commonly called AF or AFib, is an irregular heart rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart. Some people experience noticeable symptoms, while others may have few or no symptoms.
How Common Is Atrial Fibrillation in Australia?
Atrial fibrillation is an important cardiovascular health issue in Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, there were approximately 219,000 hospitalisations in 2023–24 where AF was recorded as a principal or additional diagnosis. AF contributed to 17,200 deaths in 2024, representing 9.2% of all deaths.
These figures show why persistent or unexplained rhythm symptoms should not simply be ignored.
Why Do Heart Palpitations Happen While Sleeping?
Heart palpitations while sleeping can feel particularly concerning because you may become more aware of your heartbeat when the environment is quiet.
Possible contributors include stress, caffeine consumed later in the day, alcohol, dehydration, sleep disruption and changes in heart rhythm. Some people may also notice palpitations when lying down because there are fewer distractions.
If nighttime palpitations happen regularly, wake you from sleep or occur with breathlessness, dizziness or chest discomfort, medical assessment is recommended.
When Are Heart Palpitations an Emergency?
Most palpitations are not emergencies, but certain accompanying symptoms require urgent attention.
When Should You Seek Immediate Medical Help?
Seek urgent medical help if palpitations occur with:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Severe shortness of breath
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Severe dizziness
- Significant weakness or feeling seriously unwell
Advises seeking urgent medical attention when palpitations occur with chest pain, dizziness or fainting.
How Are Heart Palpitations Diagnosed?
A healthcare professional may begin by asking about:
- When the symptoms started
- How long each episode lasts
- How frequently they occur
- Whether the heartbeat feels fast or irregular
- Possible triggers
- Other symptoms
- Your medical and family history
Depending on your symptoms, testing may include an ECG, blood tests, a Holter monitor or another type of cardiac monitoring. Longer monitoring can be particularly useful when symptoms happen intermittently and are not present during a standard ECG.
When Should You See a Heart Palpitations Specialist?
Consider discussing your symptoms with a heart palpitations specialist if they are new, recurring, becoming more frequent or affecting your daily activities.
Specialist assessment can help determine whether symptoms are related to an abnormal rhythm, structural heart condition, medication, lifestyle trigger or another cause.
For people searching for heart palpitations near me, choosing an appropriately qualified cardiac specialist can help ensure that recurring symptoms are assessed rather than simply attributed to stress or caffeine.
What About Heart Palpitations With Shortness of Breath?
Heart palpitations with shortness of breath deserve attention, particularly when the symptoms are new, severe or occur during minimal activity.
Breathlessness can have many causes, including respiratory conditions, anxiety and cardiovascular conditions. When it occurs alongside an irregular or racing heartbeat, a medical assessment can help determine whether further cardiac testing is appropriate.
How Can COR Cardiology Help?
At COR Cardiology, assessment of cardiac symptoms focuses on understanding the underlying cause rather than simply addressing the sensation itself. Depending on your individual situation, your cardiologist may recommend appropriate cardiac testing and explain the results and next steps.
If you are experiencing recurring palpitations, unexplained changes in your heartbeat or symptoms associated with possible rhythm problems, booking a cardiac assessment can be an important step toward understanding your heart health.
Book a Cardiology Appointment
If you are experiencing recurring or unexplained palpitations, speak with COR Cardiology about your symptoms and whether specialist cardiac assessment is appropriate. A consultation can help investigate possible rhythm problems, review your cardiovascular risk and determine whether further testing is needed. Book an appointment with COR Cardiology to discuss your heart health concerns.
Conclusion
Heart palpitations can feel alarming, but they do not always indicate a serious heart condition. Stress, caffeine, illness, dehydration and other everyday factors can cause noticeable changes in heartbeat. However, recurrent symptoms may sometimes be associated with an abnormal heart rhythm such as atrial fibrillation or other cardiac conditions.
Pay attention to when symptoms occur and whether they are accompanied by chest pain, dizziness, fainting or shortness of breath. If symptoms are persistent, unexplained or concerning, professional assessment can help identify the cause and guide appropriate care.
COR Cardiology can help patients understand their symptoms and determine whether specialist cardiac evaluation is appropriate.
FAQs
1. Are heart palpitations always a sign of heart disease?
No. Palpitations can occur for many reasons, including stress, caffeine, exercise, illness and dehydration. However, recurring or unexplained symptoms should be assessed.
2. Can coffee cause heart palpitations?
Caffeine can trigger or increase awareness of palpitations in some people. If you repeatedly notice symptoms after consuming coffee, discuss the pattern with your healthcare professional.
3. Can palpitations be a symptom of AFib?
Yes. Palpitations and an irregular or racing heartbeat can occur with atrial fibrillation. However, some people with AF have no noticeable symptoms, so testing is required for diagnosis.
4. Should I worry about heart palpitations while sleeping?
Not necessarily, but frequent nighttime episodes should be discussed with a doctor, especially if they occur with chest discomfort, dizziness or shortness of breath.
5. When should I seek emergency help for palpitations?
Seek urgent help if palpitations occur with chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting or severe dizziness. In Australia, call 000 for a medical emergency.
6. Can a cardiologist diagnose the cause of palpitations?
A cardiologist can assess your symptoms and determine whether cardiac testing, such as an ECG or longer-term rhythm monitoring, is appropriate.