Health Tip: Heart Palpitations

(HealthDay News) -- Heart palpitations feel like the heart is pounding or racing. The sensation may also feel like a skipped or abnormal beat, often felt in the chest, neck or throat.

Heart palpitations may or may not indicate a serious condition, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Here are a few common causes of heart palpitations:

• Exercise.
• Emotions such as fear, stress or anxiety.
• Fever.
• Substances including caffeine, nicotine, cocaine or diet pills.
• Conditions such as overactive thyroid, low oxygen levels in the blood, hyperventilation, heart disease or mitral valve prolapse.
• Medications to treat thyroid conditions, asthma, blood pressure or irregular heartbeat.

The NLM says you should seek emergency medical help if you also feel faint, dizzy or lightheaded with chest pain or shortness of breath.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: Dec. 29, 2006

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