What are increased heartbeats a sign of?
Occasional extra heartbeats, or palpitations, are common and usually harmless: often linked to stress, caffeine, or poor sleep. However, in individuals with a history of heart disease or a family predisposition, they could indicate a more serious issue. Dr Ravi Assomull explains when to be reassured and when to seek expert advice.
Learn more about Environmental risk factors or book a consultation with Dr Assomull – no GP referral needed, appointments typically within one working day.
Transcript
Extra heartbeats is something that we all get. More often than not, they're nothing to be worried about. They are described as a feeling of a skipped beat or you may feel fluttering in your chest.
Typically, they're associated with stress or anxiety. They're also potentially triggered by too much alcohol, coffee, a lack of sleep, and we tend to reassure anyone like you, who gets them that they are nothing to worry about. They are of more concern if you were to tell me that you've got a family history of heart problems or if you already have known problems with your heart, if you've had a heart attack in the past or any problems with heart failure, but in general, they tend to be something that we can reassure you about.
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