Heart Palpitations: Causes, Triggers, and What You Can Do

When your heart skips, races, or flips in your chest, you’re experiencing heart palpitations, an abnormal awareness of your heartbeat, often felt as fluttering, pounding, or irregular beats. Also known as palpitations, they’re not a disease themselves — but a signal that something in your body is out of sync. Most of the time, they’re harmless and go away on their own. But sometimes, they’re tied to something deeper — like a medication, a hormone shift, or an electrolyte problem.

Many people notice heart palpitations after drinking too much coffee, pulling an all-nighter, or during a panic attack. anxiety, a common trigger for palpitations, can flood your system with adrenaline and make your heart feel like it’s racing even when it’s not. Other times, it’s not stress — it’s your meds. Some antibiotics, thyroid pills, asthma inhalers, and even certain cold medicines can cause this sensation. If you’ve recently started a new drug, it’s worth checking whether it’s listed as a possible side effect. And don’t ignore electrolyte imbalance, a condition where levels of potassium, magnesium, or calcium drop too low, disrupting your heart’s electrical signals. That’s common after heavy sweating, vomiting, or diuretic use.

Heart palpitations also show up in people managing chronic conditions — like thyroid disorders, anemia, or even post-surgery recovery. The posts below cover real cases: how a generic drug switch led to unexpected heart symptoms, how anxiety meds can sometimes backfire, and how something as simple as low magnesium can mimic a serious heart issue. You’ll find guides on reading medication labels for hidden triggers, understanding drug interactions that affect rhythm, and spotting when it’s time to call your doctor instead of waiting it out.

What you won’t find here is fear-mongering. Heart palpitations aren’t always dangerous — but they’re worth understanding. These articles give you the facts you need to tell the difference between a harmless flutter and something that needs attention. Whether you’re worried about a new medication, dealing with stress-related episodes, or just trying to make sense of what’s happening in your chest, you’ll find practical, no-fluff advice here.