Palpitations

Heart Palpitations: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Heart palpitations are a common symptom that brings many people to seek medical care, accounting for about 16% of primary care visits and frequently appearing in emergency departments . These sensations often feel like the heart is racing, pounding, skipping beats, or fluttering, and while usually harmless, they can sometimes signal serious heart conditions . Understanding the symptoms, causes, and management of palpitations can help patients and providers distinguish benign episodes from those needing urgent attention .