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Q.

What are signs and symptoms of palpitations?

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Answers From Experts & Organizations (1)

National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteSUCCESS!
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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A.

Symptoms of palpitations include feelings that your heart is:

  • Skipping a beat
  • Fluttering
  • Beating too hard or too fast

You may have these feelings in your chest, throat, or neck. They can occur during activity or even when you're sitting still or lying down.

Palpitations often are harmless, and your heart is working normally. However, these feelings can be a sign of a more serious problem if you also:

  • Feel dizzy or confused
  • Are light-headed, think you may faint, or do faint
  • Have trouble breathing
  • Have pain, pressure, or tightness in your chest, jaw, or arms
  • Feel short of breath
  • Have unusual sweating

Your doctor may have already told you that your palpitations are harmless. Even so, see your doctor again if your palpitations:

  • Start to occur more often or are more noticeable or bothersome
  • Occur with other symptoms, such as those listed above

Your doctor will want to check whether your palpitations are the symptom of a heart problem, such as an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

This answer should not be considered medical advice...down arrowThis answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.up arrow

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