Heart palpitations as pounding or racing feelings in the heart, according to Drugs.com. People describe the sensations as skipped beats, extra beats, flip-flopping, or fluttering in the chest. Palpitations are usually not a serious problem. There are factors that may cause or worsen palpitations including caffeine, anxiety or stress, and cardiac arrhythmias. Often the causes cannot be found.
Caffeine
Caffeine is found most commonly in coffee, but is also present in tea, soft drinks and chocolate, as well as over-the-counter pain relievers and the popular energy drinks. A 1983 article in the New York Times cites a study published in "The New England Journal of Medicine" that showed 17 out of 19 people studied experienced irregular heartbeats after drinking coffee. The study found that even those with no prior history of heart trouble were affected, while those who reported a prior history of caffeine sensitivity showed a marked change in the heart's rhythm. Two of these study patients developed a more dangerous condition called ventricular tachyarrhythmia, a rhythm change that can cause sudden death.
Stress and Anxiety
Stress or anxiety can be a cause of palpitations. A study published in the "Journal of Family Practice" in 1996 found that palpitations are more persistent in people who are both highly sensitive to bodily sensations and who experience a greater number of minor daily irritants.
Cardiac Arrhythmias
A February 2005 article published in "American Family Physician" states that palpitations are most often caused by cardiac arrhythmias or anxiety. Arrhythmias are defined by the American Heart Association as problems that affect the electrical system of the heart muscle, producing abnormal heart rhythms. The 2005 "American Family Physician" article also reports that any arrhythmia can cause palpitations, and cites a study done at a university medical center of 190 patients who complained of palpitations, and 40 percent were found to have an arrhythmia.
Other Palpitation Causes
The 2005 "American Family Physician" article lists other possible cardiac causes of palpitations including congestive heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, pericarditis and cardiomyopathy. Extracardiac causes can include anemia, fever, electrolyte imbalance, dehydration and hyperthyroidism. Causes of palpitations are usually determined by a thorough medical history and exam.
