Palpitations

Palpitations are irregular heartbeats, which are often felt as skipped or extra heartbeats. They can be caused by stimulant use (coffee etc), anxiety, exercise, anaemia, hypoglycaemia, mitral valve prolapse, stress and some thyroid problems. Symptoms of palpitations include a jumping feeling in the chest, feeling as if the heart is racing, fluttering or pounding, and the heart skipping beats. Treatment options include treating the underlying cause of the palpitations where appropriate, medication, meditation, stress management techniques, reducing the use of stimulants, and herbal therapies.