

You may feel it in your chest, neck or throat. If you have a medical history that includes arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or heart disease, it’s even more important to seek help immediately. When you have heart palpitations, your heartbeat feels uncomfortable or unusual. However, if your heartbeat changes erratically without warning and you experience chest pain or difficulty breathing, don’t hesitate to see a doctor. If you are in an anxiety-filled or stressful situation or exerting a lot of energy through athletics, it may not be as serious as AFib. Pay attention to when your heart beats faster. Listen to your heartbeat: Your heartbeat will be very erratic with AFib, while with palpitations it’ll beat fast but in a steady pattern and slowly return to normal.Your age and health are factors: People over 65 and with pre-existing heart or thyroid conditions are more likely to have AFib.With heart palpitations, you also may experience other symptoms like nausea and sweating. Pay attention to the symptoms: Palpitations caused by AFib typically last longer than those brought on by anxiety.In these instances, your brain releases hormones that can make your heart beat faster. Context is important: If you are in a tense or anxious situation, it may be heart palpitations.If you’re unsure whether your pounding heart is AFib or just palpitations, here are some ways to know the difference: In fact, heart palpitations are one of the symptoms of AFib, as is fatigue, light-headedness, shortness of breath, chest pain, decreased blood pressure and a racing heart. One thing that makes AFib difficult to distinguish is that some of its symptoms could be mistaken for signs of other common conditions. The condition can be very serious and lead to stroke and heart failure if left untreated. This causes blood to accumulate in this area rather than pumping into the heart’s two lower chambers as it normally would.

AFib occurs when rapid electrical signals cause the heart’s two upper chambers to contract very fast and irregularly. Keep in mind that there are many potential causes of heart palpitations and when they occur after. But sometimes people mistake heart palpitations for a more serious condition called atrial fibrillation, or AFib. A fluttering sensation in your chest A racing heartbeat. It’s a common occurrence, especially when you’re in a tense situation. In most cases, it’s probably heart palpitations, which happens when it feels your heart is pounding really fast. The Difference Between Palpitations & A-Fib Sometimes arrhythmia and palpitations are normal, but they can also indicate more serious issues. You may be working out, and your heart skips a beat or two or starts racing. Medical Professionals Relevant information for professionals.Patient Information Information for patients and visitors.Find a Physician Find a physician to meet your needs.Services & Specialties Learn more about our services.Find a Location Find a location near you.
