Heart palpitation is a conscious feeling that your heart is beating too hard, or too fast, skipping a beat or fluttering. The possible causes of heart palpitations may be related to stress and anxiety, fear and panic. Consumption of stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine from tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars may also cause palpitation.

While most heart palpitations are harmless and will often go away on its own, it might also be a sign relating to underlying heart disease. You should seek medical attention with your cardiologist if along with palpitations, you experience dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting spells or a resting pulse rate of more than 120 beats per minute.

Heart conditions associated with palpitations include:

• Coronary artery disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Heart muscle problems (Cardiomyopathy)
• Heart valve disease
• Supraventricular arrhythmia