Heart Palpitations: Is It Just Stress or Something More Serious?

Have you ever felt your heart suddenly skip a beat, flutter, race, or pound in your chest? These sensations are known as heart palpitations, and they’re surprisingly common.

While often harmless and related to stress or lifestyle factors, heart palpitations can sometimes warn of an underlying heart condition that requires medical attention.

The team at Parkview Cardiology in New York City understands how unexpected heart palpitations can cause you to feel anxious about your health. We offer in-office testing to determine the source of irregular heart activity, so you can get the treatment you need.

Kedar Sankholkar, MD, MS, FACC, can also recommend strategies to improve your cardiovascular health through diet, exercise, and education.

What are heart palpitations?

Heart palpitations are the sensation of being unusually aware of your heartbeat. You might experience fluttering, pounding, racing, or feeling as though your heart is skipping beats.

Heart palpitations may last only a few seconds or continue for several minutes. You can feel them in the chest, throat, or neck.

Although they can be unsettling, palpitations aren’t always a cause for concern. Understanding the difference can help you know when to relax and when to seek medical care.

Identifying the source of heart palpitations

Stress and anxiety are among the most common causes of heart palpitations. During periods of emotional stress, the body releases adrenaline and other hormones that increase heart rate and make heartbeats feel more noticeable.

Other common reasons heart palpitations occur include:

• Panic attacks
• Lack of sleep
• Dehydration
• Excessive caffeine
• Nicotine
• Alcohol
• Certain medications

If your symptoms occur during stressful situations and improve once you're relaxed, they may simply reflect your body's normal response to stress.

Managing stress through regular exercise, mindfulness, adequate sleep, hydration, and limiting stimulants often helps reduce episodes.

When palpitations signal something more serious

Palpitations can be triggered by an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), thyroid disorders, electrolyte imbalances, anemia, or other medical conditions. 

Although many palpitations aren’t connected to a serious medical issue, seek attention for recurring or persistent episodes.

Make an appointment at Parkview Cardiology if your palpitations occur along with:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fainting or near-fainting
• A racing heartbeat that won't slow down

These symptoms may indicate a potentially serious heart condition requiring prompt evaluation.

How we find the cause of heart palpitations

Because palpitations can have many causes, a thorough evaluation is essential. Dr. Sankholkar reviews your medical history, symptoms, lifestyle, medications, and family history before performing a physical examination.

Depending on your symptoms, you may need additional diagnostic tests, such as:

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

An EKG records your heart's electrical activity.

Holter or event monitor

A Holter monitor tracks your heart rhythm over 24 hours or longer to capture intermittent episodes of palpitations and irregular heartbeats.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to evaluate your heart's structure and function.

Blood tests

Blood tests help identify thyroid disorders, electrolyte imbalances, anemia, or other medical issues that contribute to palpitations.

Dr. Sankholkar uses these tests to determine whether your palpitations are harmless or require treatment.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause

If stress, caffeine, or lifestyle habits are responsible, Dr. Sankholkar may recommend simple lifestyle modifications to reduce symptoms.

When we identify an underlying medical condition, treatment focuses on correcting the root cause. Dr. Sankholkar combines evidence-based cardiovascular expertise with personalized, patient-centered care to develop an individualized treatment plan tailored to your needs.

For instance, if you have arrhythmias, treatment options may include medications or specialized procedures such as catheter ablation. We continue to monitor your progress with treatment to support your long-term cardiovascular health.

Don't ignore what your heart is telling you

While occasional heart palpitations are often harmless, frequent or unexplained episodes deserve professional evaluation. Early diagnosis can provide peace of mind, identify treatable conditions before complications develop, and help protect your long-term heart health.

If you experience heart palpitations, schedule a comprehensive cardiac evaluation to speak with our cardiology specialists at Parkview Cardiology. Call our Midtown Manhattan office or request an appointment online today.