• Fluttering in the chest

• Pounding heartbeat

• Slow heartbeat

• Chest discomfort

• Shortness of breath

• Light-headedness

• Fainting sensation

You should seek immediate medical help if heart palpitations last more than 30 seconds and accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Severe chest pain

• Shortness of breath

• Unusual sweating

• Loss of consciousness

Also, it is important to consult a doctor without delay if you have pre-existing heart conditions or a family history of sudden death.

Heart palpitations are common in all age groups. “Heart palpitations among women and younger patients usually have a benign cause. Men and older patients are more likely to have palpitations caused by arrhythmias,” explained Dr Ching.

Benign heart palpitations can be triggered by:

• Stress

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Excessive caffeine or alcohol

• Nicotine

• Stimulant medications (such as weight loss pills, cough and cold medicine)

• Fever

Of greater concern are heart palpitations caused by cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac arrhythmias occur when there is a short-circuit in the electrical impulses controlling your heartbeat.

These electrical impulses are what will cause your heart to beat too rapidly, too slowly or irregularly.

When you have arrhythmia, your heartbeat either goes very fast, over 100 beats a minute (tachycardia) or very slow, less than 60 beats a minute (bradycardia).

Complications of cardiac arrhythmias

These arrhythmic heart palpitations can have serious implications:

1. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

This is a prevalent arrhythmia in young adults. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is experienced as a sudden burst of rapid heartbeats that begin and end abruptly, lasting for seconds or hours. SVT is usually not life threatening.

2. Atrial fibrillation

This fast and irregular palpitation occurs in the atria or upper chambers of the heart and could last a few minutes to an hour. Atrial fibrillation arrhythmias could become chronic and lead to stroke. It is seldom life-threatening, but the heart palpitations could indicate underlying coronary artery disease or heart valve disorders.

3. Ventricular tachycardia (VT)

Ventricular tachycardia is a very rapid, but regular heartbeat of 100 beats or more a minute occurring in the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.

Sustained heart palpitations lasting more than 30 seconds are considered a medical emergency. They could indicate pre-existing heart diseases such as coronary artery disease or heart valve disorders.

4. Ventricular fibrillation (VF)

If ventricular tachycardia is left untreated, it will lead to a life-threatening condition called ventricular fibrillation, characterised by very fast and very irregular heartbeats. It usually precedes a heart attack. You could lose consciousness within seconds and die within minutes.

Avoiding caffeine, alcohol and quitting smoking can help.

Doctors would normally prescribe oral medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to slow down heart rates in arrhythmias.

For supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation arrhythmias, catheter ablation – a non-surgical procedure using radiofrequency energy – is a possible cure.

Heart valve disorders will require surgery.

Ref: H24 (ed)

Related articles on heart health:

What Is Considered a Healthy Heart Rate?

Sudden Chest Pains You Shouldn't Ignore

How to Survive a Heart Attack When Alone

Heart Murmurs: Which are Innocent? Which are Dangerous?

Sudden Death During Exercise: How It Occurs

How a Flu-like Viral Infection Can Affect the Heart

10 Tips for a Healthy Heart