Diseases

An unpleasant awareness of the heart beat and may be experienced as a thumping sensation in the chest, consciousness of missed or extra beats or racing of the heart. Palpitations occur when the electrical signals in the heart do not work properly and the rhythm of the heartbeat is disturbed.

Organ or part of body involved: Heart
Symptoms and indications: Indications: palpitation is very common and often harmless, lasting only a few seconds or minutes, with no other symptoms. A fever due to an infection or illness can cause palpitation. Other palpitations are the result of heart disease or a heart disorder. In that case, there may also be shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness or fainting episodes.
Causes and risk factors: May occur due to a variety of factors, most of which may not be related to the heart itself. Anything which increases the work load of the heart may bring on this condition. Although palpitations do occur among other symptoms in severe heart disease, the vast majority of cases are due to anxiety and have no direct connection with heart disease whatsoever. Other causes contributing to the condition are an overfull stomach, flatulence, fever due to an infection, illness and constipation.
Prevention: Reducing stress and anxiety can help lessen your heart palpitations. Try breathing exercises or deep relaxation (a step-by-step process of tensing and then relaxing every muscle group in your body) at the time of your heartbeat sensations. Also, consider practicing yoga or tai chi on a regular basis to reduce the frequency of your palpitations. Reducing or eliminating tea, cola, coffee, and chocolate, and consuming adequate amounts of the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium can help reduce or eliminate palpitations.