Fast Beating Heart

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Try one of these related symptoms.

Tachycardia

Fast heart beat

Possible Causes

Generally, Fast beating heart can be related to:

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Fast beating heart may be related to these serious diseases:

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

Reviewed By:

Osler Jay Justo Guzon, MD

Osler Jay Justo Guzon, MD (Cardiology)

Dr. Guzon graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine with a BLA and MD. He then completed his Internal Medicine Residency at St. Louis University before a fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has since working as an invasive cardiologist with a particular interest in preventative medicine and cardiometabolic disease. Over the past several years, Dr. Guzon has served on the speaker bureaus of AstraZeneca, Lilly, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Aralez.

Tatsuya Shiraishi, MD

Tatsuya Shiraishi, MD (Cardiology)

Dr. Shiraishi graduated from the Kyoto University School of Medicine. He worked as a cardiologist at Edogawa Hospital, and after joining Ubie, he became the Director of East Nihonbashi Internal Medicine Clinic.

From our team of 50+ doctors

Content updated on Feb 6, 2025

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FAQs

Q.

Pulse Racing? Why Your Heart Rate Spikes & Medically Approved Next Steps

A.

There are several factors to consider, and key details are explained below. A racing pulse is often normal from exercise, stress, stimulants, dehydration, fever, or hormonal shifts, but unexplained, frequent, irregular, or episodes lasting over 15 to 20 minutes can signal arrhythmias or other illness; seek urgent care if it occurs with chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, severe dizziness, confusion, or one-sided weakness. Medically approved next steps include slow breathing, hydrating, cutting stimulants, reviewing medications, improving sleep, tracking patterns, and seeing a clinician for tests if episodes persist, with age specific considerations and when to go to the ER detailed below.

References:

* Chou R, Devalaraja M, Nadel ES. Supraventricular Tachycardia. [Updated 2023 Jan 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470217/

* Maron BA, Miller MA, Deegan R. Sinus Tachycardia: Not Always a Benign Rhythm. J Am Board Fam Med. 2019 Mar-Apr;32(2):285-286. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2019.02.180295. PMID: 30909986.

* Lishner M, Tamarkin G, Reuven G. Approach to the Patient with Palpitations. Med Clin North Am. 2019 May;103(3):395-403. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.12.001. Epub 2019 Feb 28. PMID: 30954117.

* Alqahtani F, Muaidi YI, Al-Qahtani S, Al-Qahtani Z, Al-Qahtani M, Al-Hamad MA. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2023 Apr;48(4):101569. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.101569. Epub 2023 Feb 1. PMID: 36736413.

* Glikson M, et al. Current Guidelines for the Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias. J Clin Med. 2021 May 29;10(11):2392. doi: 10.3390/jcm10112392. PMID: 34067331; PMCID: PMC8199589.

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Q.

Scared? Why Your Heart is Racing: Medical News Today’s Clinical Steps

A.

A racing heart is often a normal response to stress, exercise, dehydration, fever, or stimulants, but it can also point to thyroid problems, anemia, or arrhythmias that need attention. Doctors follow clear clinical steps history, exam, EKG or monitors, and targeted blood tests to find the cause, and urgent care is needed if it occurs with chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or severe dizziness. There are several factors to consider. See below for specific red flags, simple steps to slow your heart now, prevention tips, and guidance on when to book an appointment versus seeking emergency care.

References:

* Kim, H. G., Cheon, E. J., Bai, D. S., Lee, Y. H., & Koo, B. H. (2018). Stress and Heart Rate Variability: A Meta-Analysis and Review of the Literature. *Psychiatry Investigation*, *15*(3), 235–245. PMCID: PMC5900377.

* May, M., & Thaler, H. (2016). When the heart races: An approach to palpitations in primary care. *Canadian Family Physician*, *62*(11), 896–902. PMCID: PMC5102283.

* Katon, W. J., & Schweitzer, R. (2018). Panic attacks, anxiety, and the heart. *Journal of Clinical Psychiatry*, *79*(2), 17nr11910. PMID: 29505508.

* Chokka, P. R., & Garfinkel, P. E. (2020). Anxiety disorders and cardiovascular disease: A bidirectional relationship. *Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology*, *40*(1), 1–10. PMID: 31804253.

* Roest, A. M., Martens, E. J., de Jonge, P., & Denollet, J. (2020). Anxiety and cardiovascular disease: a narrative review and future directions. *Journal of Psychiatric Research*, *125*, 1-10. PMID: 32305574.

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Q.

Still feeling off on Atenolol? Why your heart is reacting and your medical next steps.

A.

Feeling off on atenolol is common and can come from an overly slow heart rate, drops in blood pressure, fatigue, mood or exercise changes, or breakthrough fast rhythms. There are several factors to consider; see below for what each means and how to tell if the dose, timing, or another condition is the real cause. Do not stop atenolol suddenly; track your heart rate and blood pressure, seek urgent care for chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or fainting, and speak with your doctor about adjusting the dose or switching medications, with full next-step details and important safety notes below.

References:

* Aquilante CL, Langaee TY, Gong L, et al. Pharmacogenomics of Beta-Blockers. Pharmgenomics Pers Med. 2016 Jul 11;9:111-19. doi: 10.2147/PGPM.S96064. PMID: 27426176; PMCID: PMC4947938.

* Lin D, Dong J, Han B, et al. Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Atenolol and Bisoprolol in Patients with Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Hypertens. 2020 Jul 3;2020:6935218. doi: 10.1155/2020/6935218. PMID: 32675685; PMCID: PMC7360216.

* Khan MZ, Usman M, Zafar W, et al. Beta-blocker induced adverse effects: what are the differences between them? J Pak Med Assoc. 2018 Jan;68(1):153-156. PMID: 29330889.

* Malihi Z, Shahin MH, Khakbazan Z, et al. Antihypertensive treatment in patients intolerant to beta-blockers: a systematic review. J Hypertens. 2014 Aug;32(8):1569-77. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000000236. PMID: 24891460.

* Agarwal M. Role of Atenolol in the Management of Hypertension: An Update. Clin Med Insights Cardiol. 2017 Jun 12;11:1179547317711422. doi: 10.1177/1179547317711422. PMID: 28624103; PMCID: PMC5468305.

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Q.

Heart Racing? Why Your Body Reacts to Pre-Workout & Medically Approved Next Steps

A.

A racing heart after pre workout is common from caffeine and other stimulants that boost adrenaline and heart rate, especially at 150 to 400 mg per serving or when stacked with other caffeine, and it is often temporary but can be stronger with dehydration, certain medications, poor sleep, or underlying heart or thyroid issues. For mild symptoms, stop the workout, hydrate, rest, and use slow breathing; seek urgent care for chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, irregular beats, or a resting heart rate over 140 to 150, and consider lowering the dose or choosing stimulant free options for future workouts. There are several factors and important nuances that could change your next steps, so see the complete guidance below.

References:

* Higgins JP, Babu KM, Sharma M, et al. Cardiovascular Complications of Popular Energy Drinks and Pre-Workout Supplements. *Curr Sports Med Rep*. 2018;17(11):405-412. PMID: 30419330.

* Gouda S, Singh A, Dhadde SB, et al. Adverse Effects Associated With Pre-Workout Supplements: A Systematic Review. *J Clin Pharmacol*. 2019;59(12):1598-1608. PMID: 31109918.

* Spradley BD, Esposito EA, Greenbaum EN, et al. Impact of an acute dose of a multi-ingredient pre-workout supplement on indices of cardiovascular function and exercise performance: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial. *J Int Soc Sports Nutr*. 2020;17(1):15. PMID: 32188200.

* Astorino TA, Taylor MJ, Johnson SM. Acute effects of a caffeine-containing supplement on cardiovascular and metabolic responses during and after a single bout of resistance exercise. *J Strength Cond Res*. 2019;33(1):145-151. PMID: 30707769.

* Kalman D, Feldman S, Krieger D, et al. The effect of a multi-ingredient pre-workout supplement on markers of cardiovascular health and performance in resistance-trained males. *J Int Soc Sports Nutr*. 2018;15(1):37. PMID: 29967733.

See more on Doctor's Note

Q.

Is Your Resting Heart Rate Normal? The Science & Your Next Medical Steps

A.

For most adults, a normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 BPM, while well trained athletes may be 40 to 60; readings consistently above 100 or below 50 if you are not an athlete, a sudden change from your baseline, or symptoms like chest pain, fainting, severe dizziness, shortness of breath, or palpitations should prompt medical care. Measure it correctly over several mornings and watch trends, then address contributors like stress, sleep, hydration, stimulants, fitness, and medications, and speak to a clinician if numbers stay abnormal or you have risk factors. There are several important nuances, causes, and tests that can impact your next steps, so see the complete guidance below.

References:

* Sardana M, et al. Resting heart rate: normal and abnormal ranges. J Pract Cardiovasc Sci. 2018;4(2):98-107.

* Aune D, et al. Resting heart rate and the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. J Am Heart Assoc. 2017;6(7):e005822.

* Boehm BO, et al. The prognostic significance of resting heart rate. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2017;142(10):739-744.

* Keara K, et al. Physiological variations in heart rate. Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J. 2016;16(2):49-53.

* Reboldi G, et al. Elevated resting heart rate and its implications for patients with cardiovascular disease: current evidence and therapeutic strategies. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2013;15(12):916-24.

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Q.

Heart Racing? Why Your "Gravity Sensor" is Glitching & Medical Next Steps

A.

There are several factors to consider. A racing heart when you stand often points to POTS, where your body’s gravity sensor misfires and your heart rate jumps 30+ bpm within 10 minutes of standing, but dehydration, anemia, thyroid problems, arrhythmias, medications, and anxiety must also be ruled out. Next steps: track lying-to-standing heart rate, hydrate and consider salt if safe, avoid sudden position changes, and see your doctor or a cardiologist; seek urgent care for chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath, very high heart rate, or new neurological signs. Key diagnostic criteria, symptom patterns, and treatment options are outlined below.

References:

* Raj, S. R., & Diedrich, A. (2022). Postural Tachycardia Syndrome. *New England Journal of Medicine*, *387*(25), 2358–2368.

* Fu, Q., Van Hare, G. F., & Levine, B. D. (2023). Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. *Journal of the American College of Cardiology*, *82*(9), 837–850.

* Vernino, S., & Stiles, L. E. (2019). Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): A Current Review. *Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports*, *19*(9), 60.

* Goldstein, D. S. (2023). Dysautonomia: An Overview. *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, *12*(4), 1461.

* Shibao, C., & Raj, S. R. (2022). Cardiovascular Dysautonomia. *Handbook of Clinical Neurology*, *186*, 237–249.

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Q.

Racing Chest? Why Your Heart Is Fluttering and Your Next Steps to Relief

A.

A racing or fluttering heart is often triggered by stress, caffeine, dehydration, illness, hormonal shifts, or exercise and is usually harmless, but it can also signal arrhythmias like AFib. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Seek urgent help for chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or pain that spreads to the arm, neck, or jaw, and try calming steps like slow breathing, hydration, and cutting stimulants while arranging a clinician evaluation if episodes persist or your resting rate stays over 100, with full next-step guidance below.

References:

* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28141676/

* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34073380/

* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28762741/

* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37657929/

* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38161706/

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Caroline M. Doan, DO

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Signify Health

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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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Dale Mueller, MD

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Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Associates

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Penn State Health

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