Heart palpitations are uncomfortable heartbeats that may feel like your heart is pounding or racing, or you may feel skipped or irregular beats. Palpitations are not usually serious, but you should be examined by your doctor to see if you have an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation. This is especially true if you have any risk factors for heart disease, an abnormal heart valve or abnormal electrolyte levels in your blood.
Start Slowly
If your doctor rules out any serious health condition, there are several steps you can take to help prevent heart palpitations when you exercise. When you exercise, add at least 10 minutes to the beginning and end of your routine to warm up and cool down slowly. It will give your heart time to change pace gradually. Sudden exercise or overexercise are common triggers for heart palpitations. Cooling down is especially important if you've been running, cycling or doing other exercises that involve your legs.
Other Heart Palpitation Triggers
Eliminate caffeine and nicotine and try to reduce stress. These are all triggers for irregular heartbeats. Breathe evenly when running or performing any other exercise. Don't exercise so hard that you can't talk while exercising. Focusing on your breathing or doing breathing exercises can help reduce stress. Drink enough water -- according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, dehydration is one of the most frequent causes for heart palpitations.
Other Symptoms
The more serious the symptoms, the more seriously you need to take the problem. If you also experience dizziness, fainting, chest pain or shortness of breath, you should be evaluated by your physician to rule out an underlying health problem. If none of these other symptoms are present, then there is usually little reason for serious concern.
Expert Opinion
Michael Kienzle, M.D., explains, in an article published by the University of Iowa, that many patients who experience irregular or extra heartbeats often don't feel them during exercise because the increased heart rate masks them. After exercise, when the heart rate begins to decrease, the extra beats are more obvious again. Sometimes the sensation of heart palpitations will be stronger than before you started exercising. As long as you don't have the other symptoms such as dizziness, fainting or chest pain, and as long as you don't experience shortness of breath once you have cooled down, there is likely nothing to worry about.
