Palpitations are common and are often linked to anxiety - but they can also be a sign of a more serious heart issue. Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters You're standing in the kitchen washing up, waiting for a bus, or even getting ready for bed and there it goes again, your pulse suddenly pounding and racing in your chest. We all know our heart rate speeds up with strenuous exercise, or momentarily leaps if we get a sudden fright.
But what if you're getting palpitations when there's no obvious cause? So is it stress and anxiety , or could it be a problem with your heart? This is what you need to know. Arrhythmia, the medical term for an abnormal or irregular heart rate or rhythm is associated with a range of potential conditions, some of which can be very serious and will need to be monitored and treated. Here's what you need to know.
"Many people do experience palpitations as a symptom of anxiety and panic attacks, and it is common for people to have palpitations when they are anxious," says Yuko Nippoda, psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). This is due to the body's 'fight or flight' response, which can happen in moments of acute stress, causing a spike in cortisol and adrenalin levels. These stress hormones can bring on a number of physiological resp.