- Parents Home
- Para Padres
- Allergy Center
- Asthma Center
- Cancer Center
- Diabetes Center
- Diseases & Conditions
- Doctors & Hospitals
- Emotions & Behavior
- First Aid & Safety
- Flu Center
- Food Allergy Center
- General Health
- Growth & Development
- Heart Health
- Homework Help Center
- Infections
- Newborn Center
- Nutrition & Fitness Center
- Play & Learn Center
- Pregnancy Center
- Q&A
- Recipes
- School & Family Life
- Sports Medicine Center
- Videos
- Kids Home
- Para Niños
- Asthma Center
- Cancer Center
- Diabetes Center
- Feelings
- Getting Help
- Health Problems
- Health Problems of Grown-Ups
- Heart Center
- Homework Center
- How the Body Works
- Illnesses & Injuries
- Kids' Medical Dictionary
- Movies & More
- Nutrition & Fitness Center
- Puberty & Growing Up
- Q&A
- Recipes & Cooking
- Relax & Unwind Center
- Stay Safe Center
- Staying Healthy
- Staying Safe
- Videos
- Teens Home
- Para Adolescentes
- Asthma Center
- Be Your Best Self Center
- Cancer Center
- Diabetes Center
- Diseases & Conditions
- Drugs & Alcohol
- Expert Answers (Q&A)
- Flu Center
- Homework Help Center
- Infections
- Managing Your Medical Care
- Managing Your Weight
- Nutrition & Fitness Center
- Recipes
- Safety & First Aid
- School & Work
- Sports Center
- Stress & Coping Center
- Videos
- Your Body
- Your Mind
A to Z: Palpitations
May also be called: Irregular Heartbeat
Palpitations (pal-pih-TAY-shuns), or heart palpitations, are rapid or irregular heartbeats that make you feel like your heart is racing or fluttering.
More to Know
Lots of things can cause the heart to beat quickly, including exercise, stress, fever, caffeine, nicotine, illegal drugs, thyroid disorders, and certain medications. This can trigger palpitations, which are fluttering heartbeats — the feeling that the heart has skipped a beat or is beating irregularly. In most cases, these types of palpitations are harmless.
Sometimes, palpitations are due to an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and may be a sign of a serious medical condition. Arrhythmias can be caused by heart disease, genetic factors, chemical imbalances in the blood, infections, medications, and injuries to the heart.
Frequent palpitations or palpitations along with fainting, chest pain, sweating, or shortness of breath might indicate an arrhythmia that should be diagnosed by a doctor.
Keep in Mind
Most palpitations won't require any treatment. If an arrhythmia is causing the palpitations, treating its cause usually will stop the palpitations. Palpitations occurring repeatedly or with other associated symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor.
All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995- The Nemours Foundation. KidsHealth® is a registered trademark of The Nemours Foundation. All rights reserved.
Images sourced by The Nemours Foundation and Getty Images.