It's not unusual to feel heart palpitations -- the sensation of a racing heartbeat that you can feel in your chest and your throat, or misses beats -- if you've been running fast. But if you've never felt this type of heart palpitations before, it might alarm you. In most cases, heart palpitations during vigorous exercise don't signal a problem and stop as soon as you slow down. However, in some cases heart palpitations can indicate a health condition.
Basics
Heart palpitations can involve two different types of heartbeats. In the first type, palpitations make your heart race so fast that you feel a pounding pulse. It's common to feel this when running fast, although a variety of other factors can cause the problem, including too much caffeine, anxiety or stress. In the second type, your heart actually misses beats or adds extra beats. These types of palpitations, called arrhythmias, can represent a problem.
Potential Problems
If you're accustomed to running fast, but you notice that your heart pounds more rapidly than usual or it starts to miss beats, see your physician. Potential causes for these problems include coronary artery disease or problems with one of your heart valves. There are many other potential causes, including dehydration and low blood sugar, both of which can occur during hard workouts. Your physician can help you determine the cause of your particular heart palpitations.
Testing
It may be difficult for your physician to pinpoint the cause of your heart palpitations during an office visit, since your heart probably will be beating normally then. Your doctor probably will recommend an electrocardiogram to record and analyze your heart's electrical signals. Since your heart palpitations appear when you're running fast, you may also undergo a stress test, which will involve running on a treadmill while your heart's rhythm and signals are analyzed.
Considerations
If it turns out that you do have a problem with your heart, your physician will explain the next steps in your treatment plan. However, if testing doesn't uncover a reason for you to feel heart palpitations while running fast, you may be able to alleviate them yourself. Try cutting back on caffeine, which may be a cause. If that doesn't work, slow down your running routine some to stop your heart palpitations.
