Editing Palpitations (section)

{{short description|Perceived cardiac abnormality in which one's heartbeat can be felt}}
{{Distinguish|Palpation}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name          = Palpitation
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| image         = Pietro Longhi 027.jpg
| caption       = Artistic impression of a woman experiencing [[Syncope (medicine)|syncope]], which may accompany heart palpitations
| pronounce     =
| field         = [[Cardiology]]
| symptoms      =
| complications =
| onset         =
| duration      =
| types         =
| causes        =
| risks         =
| diagnosis     =
| differential  = [[Tachycardia]]
| prevention    =
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| alt           =
}}
'''Palpitations''' occur when a person becomes aware of their heartbeat. The heartbeat may feel hard, fast, or uneven in their chest.<ref name="Robinson Sanchack 2019">{{cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=Kenneth J. |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436016/ |title=Palpitations in StatPearls |last2=Sanchack |first2=Kristian E. |date=2019 |publisher=StatPearls |pmid=28613787 |access-date=2019-03-30 |via=NCBI Bookshelf}} {{CC-PMC}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Aras |first=Mandar |title=Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Cardiology |publisher=McGraw Hill, LLC |isbn=978-1-264-64357-8 |edition=6th |publication-date=2023}}</ref>

Symptoms include a very fast or irregular heartbeat. Palpitations are a sensory symptom.<ref name="Robinson Sanchack 2019" /> They are often described as a skipped beat, a rapid flutter, or a pounding in the chest or neck.<ref name="Robinson Sanchack 2019" /><ref name=":1" />

Palpitations are not always the result of a physical problem with the heart and can be linked to [[anxiety]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Kowalchuk |first1=Alicia |last2=Gonzalez |first2=Sandra J. |last3=Zoorob |first3=Roger J. |date=December 2022 |title=Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36521463 |journal=American Family Physician |volume=106 |issue=6 |pages=657–664 |issn=1532-0650 |pmid=36521463}}</ref> However, they may signal a [[arrhythmia|fast or irregular heartbeat]]. Palpitations can be brief or long-lasting. They can be intermittent or continuous. Other symptoms can include dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating, headaches, and chest pain.<ref name=":1" />

There are a variety of causes of palpitations not limited to the following:

Palpitation may be associated with [[coronary artery disease|coronary heart disease]], [[perimenopause]], [[hyperthyroidism]], adult heart muscle diseases like [[hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]], congenital heart diseases like atrial septal defects,<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Lilly |first=Leonard |title=Pathophysiology of Heart Disease: An Introduction to Cardiovascular Medicine |publisher=a Wolters Kluwer business |year=2026 |isbn=978-1-9752-1662-7 |edition=8}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> diseases causing low blood oxygen such as [[asthma]], [[emphysema]] or a blood clot in the lungs; previous chest surgery;<ref name=":1" /> [[kidney disease]]; blood loss and pain; [[anemia]]; drugs such as [[antidepressants]], [[statins]], [[Alcohol (drug)|alcohol]], [[nicotine]], [[caffeine]], [[cocaine]] and [[amphetamines]]; [[electrolyte imbalance]]s of [[hypomagnesemia|magnesium]], [[hyperkalemia|potassium]] and [[hypercalcemia|calcium]]; and deficiencies of nutrients such as [[taurine]], [[arginine]], [[iron]] or [[Vitamin B12|vitamin B<sub>12</sub>]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vitamins That Can Cause Heart Palpitations|url=https://www.livestrong.com/article/285943-vitamins-that-cause-heart-palpitations/|access-date=2021-09-04|website=LiveStrong. com|language=en}}</ref>