You exercise to strengthen your heart, so when your heart skips a beat or flutters quickly while exercising, you may feel there is cause for concern. Heart palpitations or arrhythmias are a common occurrence that do not always indicate the need for medical intervention but can require further treatment in some instances. Before you give up your favorite exercise program, check with your physician to determine the cause of your heart palpitations.
Triggers/Symptoms
Exercise is a common trigger for heart palpitations. So are dehydration, low blood sugar levels and stress, all of which you may be experiencing during an exercise session. Heart palpitations vary in their symptoms and severity. Some palpitations are so strong you may feel a pounding in your neck or chest as if you are having a heart attack. Some are milder and may create a feeling of unease or a flip-flopping in the chest. You also may experience shortness of breath, which is commonly related to exercise instead of heart palpitations.
Premature Ventricular Contractions
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, such as those experienced during exercise, can be a normal occurrence in healthy people. Normal PVCs occur before and after exercise, not during it, according to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. This is because your heart rate increases during exercise, making the faster heart palpitations go away. Adrenaline produced during exercise still remains in the body for some time, which is why your heart palpitations may resume following exercise. In the instance of PVCs, troublesome symptoms that may indicate the need for further testing include chest pain, loss of consciousness or feeling very lightheaded. These symptoms will be more severe than the shortness of breath that accompanies typical vigorous exercise.
Angina
In some instances, exercise-induced heart palpitations are a symptom of a condition known as stable angina. This condition causes chest pain and heart palpitations with exertion. Exercise-induced angina is different from PVCs because it is accompanied with severe squeezing pain in the chest. When you stop exercising and catch your breath, the pain typically ceases. If you think you may be experiencing this condition, see your physician, who can test your heartbeat and determine if you require medications or other treatments to care for your angina pain. Your physician may recommend modifications to your exercise plan that can help you reduce symptoms.
Warning
While most heart palpitations brought on during exercise are attributable to less serious and/or treatable conditions, heart palpitations can be a symptom of a heart attack. If your heart palpitations are accompanied by severe sweating, numbness in your extremities, severe chest pain, fainting or headache, seek immediate medical treatment. Fast care for heart attack symptoms improves your outcomes.
