Palpitations are the feeling that your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or skipping beats. Common, usually harmless triggers include anxiety and stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, intense exercise, fever, hormonal changes (such as menopause or pregnancy), dehydration and some cold and asthma medicines.
Less commonly, palpitations are due to a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), thyroid overactivity, anaemia or low blood sugar. An irregular, sustained or recurrent fluttering can indicate atrial fibrillation, which needs treatment to lower stroke risk.
See a doctor if palpitations are frequent, last a long time, or come with chest pain, severe breathlessness, dizziness or fainting, and seek emergency care if chest pain or fainting occurs. A doctor may arrange an ECG or heart-rhythm monitor to find the cause. Reducing caffeine, alcohol and stress often helps with benign palpitations.