On occasion, you may experience the sensation that your heart is pounding, fluttering or beating with unusual intensity or speed. You might think you're having a heart attack, but it's more likely that you're experiencing heart palpitations. Palpitations are momentary breaks in the heart's normal rhythm. They are generally harmless and can occur at any moment, no matter whether you're active, resting or even in the middle of a workout.
Causes
A variety of conditions and situations can trigger heart palpitations. Feelings of anxiety, fear, panic or stress can elicit heart palpitations, as can exercise, pregnancy, and certain chemical substances, such as caffeine, nicotine or amphetamines. Medical triggers include having low blood sugar, a low potassium level, low oxygen level or low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. Palpitations are also common for those suffering from a fever, anemia, dehydration, loss of blood or an overactive thyroid. Sometimes there is no known cause for heart palpitations.
Because there is such a wide range of causes for heart palpitations, if you suffer from heart palpitations during exercise, other potential causes will be taken into account as well, particularly if you also have palpitations when you're not working out.
Symptoms
Heart palpitations sensations can vary from person to person. You might feel as though your heart is skipping a beat, fluttering, racing, pounding or throbbing. You may also simply have a general sense of unease in the chest area. Palpitations can be felt in the neck, chest or throat.
Heart Palpitations During Exercise
Heart palpitations do not usually occur during exercise, but more often occur just before or just after. According to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, this is because as your own heart rate rises while working out, any extra heartbeats aren't noticeable or disappear. However, you will likely to notice extra heartbeats immediately after a workout, while adrenaline is still pumping through your body and your heart rate is beginning to slow down.
Prevention/Solution
If you regularly experience heart palpitations during exercise, engage in a less rigorous workout to see whether that makes a difference. But also consider that heart palpitations experienced during exercise might not be related to exercise. For example, if you are a caffeine drinker or smoker, avoid caffeine and quit smoking and note whether the palpitations cease. If you are undergoing a stressful period, try to minimize stress by engaging in exercises that promote peaceful feelings, such as yoga or tai-chi. Also, check your medications to see whether any of them list palpitations as a potential side effect. If so, consult your doctor about switching to a different medication.
Warning
If, in addition to heart palpitations, you experience light-headedness, dizziness, shortness of breath or chest pain while exercising, you should stop exercising immediately and call your health care provider. You doctor may want to perform an exercise stress test to identify the exact source of the palpitations.
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