Ambulance 912HAP 9252
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General health information

Palpitations

Palpitations mean noticing your heartbeat as pounding, skipping beats, fluttering or suddenly speeding up. They are often harmless, for example because of stress, caffeine or an extra heartbeat, but sometimes a heart rhythm problem or another physical condition is responsible. Palpitations with fainting, chest pain, severe shortness of breath, becoming pale or weak, or an episode that does not settle need prompt assessment.

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  • Palpitations are a feeling of your heart pounding, fluttering, skipping beats or racing. They are common and often harmless, but not always.
  • The feeling may result from the body's normal response to stress, fever, exercise or stimulants. An extra heartbeat can also be noticeable.
  • Sometimes the cause is a heart rhythm problem, anaemia, a thyroid problem, dehydration, infection or a side effect of substances or medicines.
  • Palpitations together with fainting, nearly fainting, severe shortness of breath, chest pain or sudden loss of strength need prompt assessment.
  • During the day, contact your usual GP (family doctor). Outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252, the out-of-hours GP service. In an immediate life-threatening emergency, call Ambulance 912.

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