Symptom: Palpitations

Palpitations: Abnormality of the heart beat that person can feel
Introduction: The term "palpitations" loosely means any time a person can sense their own heartbeat, and believes it to be unusual or abnormal. Thus, palpitations may be used by patients to describe racing heartbeat, rapid heart beat, slow heart beat, irregular heartbeat, and various arrhythmias.

Detailed cause information for symptom: Palpitations:

Possible causes of symptom: Palpitations (72 conditions)

Medications or substances causing symptom: Palpitations (54 listings)

Medical conditions causing symptom: Palpitations (27 conditions)

Disease information: see also Palpitations condition information

Causes of Palpitations (67 conditions)

Medication Causes of Palpitations (53 causes)

Medical articles on symptoms: These general medical articles may be of interest:

Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
Symptoms and Medical Malpractice
Medical mistakes and their rates, causes and prevention
Deaths and sudden death

Symptoms related to Palpitations: rapid heart beat (51), slow heart beat (10), heart rhythm symptoms (100)
Palpitations type of: Heart symptoms (130), Heart rhythm symptoms (100)
Symptoms: symptom center, symptom groups, symptom descriptions

Possible causes of symptom: Palpitations: The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Palpitations as a symptom. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

Some non-disorder reasons for palpitations may include:
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Stress
- Memory of a traumatic event - such as an association of a trauma causing a heart jump from temporary anxiety every time it's seen again.
- Poor physical condition - may calse "palpitations" on exertion or exercise.
Psychological disorders that may cause palpitation symptoms include:
- Panic attack
- Panic disorder
- Anxiety disorders - may types of anxiety disorders may cause palpitations from anxiety.
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Sexual aversion disorder
Excessive caffeine
Excessive alcohol
Indigestion - one reader reports that indigestion leading to gas brings on palpitations
Arrhythmias
- Tachycardia
- Bradycardia
- Atrial fibrillation
- Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (type of Tachycardia)
- Supraventricular tachycardia
- Ventricular tachycardia (type of Arrhythmias)
- Complete heart block
- Holiday heart syndrome - usually due to early alcohol ingestion.
- Click-murmur syndrome
- Digitalis-induced arrhythmia
Heart disorders
- Heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart valve disease
- Heart ischemia
- Myocardiopathy
- complications of heart attack
- Rheumatic carditis
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Congestive heart failure
- Cardiomyopathy
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Heart conduction abnormalities
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
- Sick sinus syndrome
Functional palpitations
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemic attack
Reactive hypoglycemia (type of Hypoglycemia)
Hyperthyroidism
Hypoxia
Hyperventilation
Infiltrative myocardial diseases
- Amyloidosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Heart tumor
Hypothyroidism - can cause sinus bradycardia
Anemia
Perimenopause - the pre-menopause phase can cause palpitations.
Strenuous exercise
Certain drugs and substances
See also causes of palpitations

Medications or substances causing Palpitations: The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Palpitations as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

Certain drugs

Caffeine
Stimulants
Tobacco
Snuff
Alcohol
Illicit drugs
Amphetamines
Cocaine
Digitalis glycosides
Digoxin
Psychotropic drugs
Thyroid hormone
Certain OTC weight-loss medications
Anti-arrhythmic drugs - can sometimes actually cause an arrhythmia
- Quinidine
- Procainamide
- Lidocaine
- Dispyramide
- Phenytoin
Drugs causing ventricular arrhythmia
- Cocaine
- Phenothiazines
- Diphenhydramine
- Propranolol
- Propoxyphene
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Amiodarone
Drugs causing bradycardia
Drugs causing sinus tachycardia
- Hydralazine
- Minoxidil
Withdrawal of drugs causing palpitations:
- Clonidine withdrawal
- Phenytoin withdrawal
- Beta blocker withdrawal
- Anti-arrhythmic drug withdrawal

Conditions listing symptoms: Palpitations: The following list of conditions have 'Palpitations' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.