Psychosomatics of heart palpitations
Your heart suddenly pounds, skips or thumps in your throat. Most often it isn’t dangerous, but the causes vary, so palpitations are worth checking with a doctor.
Updated
What psychosomatics says
Psychosomatics doesn’t explain why the heart beats harder and doesn’t replace a check-up. First rule out the heart, the thyroid and anaemia. Palpitations don’t mean you’re weak or that you’re winding yourself up.
In psychosomatics, the heart is linked to closeness, love and the feeling “I am accepted.” Strong heartbeat is talked about when emotional pain is tied to relationships: fear of losing someone, hurt, a break-up, a feeling that “love is broken.” It’s an image, not a diagnosis.
The NHS names stress and anxiety among common causes of palpitations, so questions to yourself are fitting: when they appear and what you’re thinking about at that moment. If episodes come with panic, see the page on panic attacks too.
What it is
Palpitations are when you suddenly notice your own heartbeat. The NHS describes how they feel: the heart beats very fast or unevenly, with skipped or extra beats, pounding or fluttering. You can feel it in your chest, neck or throat, and it lasts from a few seconds to minutes or longer.
They are common and usually not a sign of anything serious. According to the NHS, causes include strenuous exercise, lack of sleep, stress and anxiety, medicines, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. Sometimes they are a sign of the menopause, and some people get them in pregnancy. Iron deficiency anaemia, an overactive thyroid, a heart rhythm problem and other heart conditions can cause them too.
To find the cause, a doctor may do an ECG and, if needed, refer you to a cardiologist. MedlinePlus reminds us that some arrhythmias are harmless, but a frequent irregular rhythm may mean the heart isn’t pumping enough blood.
Palpitations often don’t need treatment. If they are linked to lifestyle, avoiding triggers such as stress, smoking, caffeine and alcohol helps. If the cause is a condition, that condition is treated.
How it shows up
- Your heart beats very fast
- You feel skipped or extra beats
- Your heart pounds in your chest, neck or throat
- It feels like fluttering in your chest
- Episodes come with worry, after coffee or after a poor night’s sleep
- An episode lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes
Start with a general practitioner: they’ll order an ECG and blood tests (including haemoglobin and thyroid hormones) and refer you to a cardiologist if needed.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my heart pound when I’m nervous?
The NHS names stress and anxiety among common causes of palpitations: the body reacts to a sense of danger. This is usually not dangerous. But if episodes keep coming back, last longer than a few minutes, or you have a heart condition, see a doctor.
When are palpitations dangerous?
According to the NHS, if they don’t go away or come with chest pain, shortness of breath, a feeling you’ll faint, or fainting, you need an ambulance: 103 in Kazakhstan. If an episode has passed but came with these signs, book an urgent appointment.
Can palpitations come with the menopause or anaemia?
Yes. The NHS writes that palpitations can be a sign of the menopause, as well as of iron deficiency anaemia and an overactive thyroid. That’s why a doctor usually orders blood tests, not only an ECG.
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Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.