Belinda Fletcher was packing up and moving from Maryland to Spotsylvania County, Va., in 2004 when she noticed a fluttering sensation in her chest.
The 42-year-old met with a physician shortly after noticing the palpitation, and she wore a heart monitor for 24 hours in an attempt to record further events. But no palpitations were spotted on the monitor, and over time, the rapid beats subsided.
"In the end, as I settled down with work and the move the palpitations went away," Fletcher said.
Most heart palpitations, including Fletcher's, are harmless. They are often triggered by stress or by consuming too much caffeine. But palpitations can signal more serious problems, such as an underlying heart condition, which is why doctors say it's wise to get them checked out.
Causes of heart palpitations are largely unknown, but they commonly stem from stress, too much exercise or certain kinds of medication. Avoiding such triggers can reduce the chances of palpitations occurring.
Fletcher thought the stress from her move caused her palpitations, and that would explain why they went away after she settled into her new home.
An Anxious Feeling
Most heart palpitations are not life-threatening, said Dr. Robert Vranian, a Fredericksburg, Va., cardiologist. Instead, he said, they are often the result of "an emotional reaction."
The sympathetic nervous system can cause palpitations when a person is stressed or excited due to an overproduction of adrenaline, Vranian said. "Sometimes, simple anxiety or other causes, such as gastrointestinal, can be misinterpreted by the person as being irregular heart beats," Vranian said. But Vranian stressed that each case should be examined individually to be sure the patient gets the proper treatment. Though it's uncommon for palpitations to stem from serious heart problems, there are times when people experiencing them should quickly see a doctor. Dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain and fainting accompanying palpitations are all warning signs of a problem. People experiencing such symptoms should seek medical attention. Palpitations that signal an underlying problem "are common enough for a community the size of Fredericksburg to have two or three electrophysiologists," Vranian said of the cardiac arthythmia specialists who can help figure out if there's a problem with the heart's rhythm. The area also has several cardiologists who can see people worried about their hearts. An Important WarningFor King George County, Va., resident Fran Thomas, heart palpitations were a clue that something was wrong.
Thomas suffered shortness of breath, fatigue and a lowered heart rate, along with experiencing palpitations. Her search for a diagnosis began in 2004, when she noticed heart flutters similar to those Fletcher described. Thomas visited several doctors in the following years. And in 2007, the 44-year-old found she had a bicuspid aortic valve and a dissecting ascending aorta. A bicuspid aortic valve is a congenital heart defect in which the valve has only two leaflets instead of the usual three. The valve is important because it regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta, the body's major blood vessel. The condition "is not too infrequent, is often inherited and over time can cause problems with gradual narrowing or leakage [of the valve], sometimes to the point where correction is necessary," Vranian said. A dissecting ascending aorta -- Thomas' other condition -- is when a tear occurs in the aorta allowing blood to fill the inner layer of the aorta. If the layer ruptures through the outside aortic wall, then the aorta may dissect. Both heart conditions can be fatal. But with surgery, medication and a daily workout, Thomas is fine. "Arrhythmias or palpitations certainly can show something is amiss," Thomas said. "I ignored my symptoms for so long." People shouldn't panic if they experience palpitations, but they also shouldn't hesitate to see a doctor if there's reason to think something more serious is happening. A doctor can help distinguish between harmless palpitations and those that are signs of a serious condition. "Most people will feel them at times," Vranian said. "But differentiating [between the types] may be difficult."
