Heart flutters, which are also referred to as palpitations, are heart beats that feel fluttery or faster than normal. They can occur for a number of different reasons, and in most cases, they are harmless. For example, a person may have heart palpitations because of stress, in relation to exercise, or while taking certain types of medication. Interestingly, even such substances as caffeine and nicotine may cause a person to experience heart flutters. Though most times they're innocuous, heart palpitations can sometimes be a sign of a serious medical problem, such as a heart condition.
Most people do not notice the beating of their hearts while they perform the everyday acts of living. If an individual does notice the feel of his heart beating, it is often because he is engaged in strenuous exercise or dealing with some type of stress. Fluttery feelings often stand out because people are not used to noticing the beating of their hearts. Fluttery-feeling heart beats are often referred to as heart flutters or palpitations. Sometimes, however, a person may describe an abnormally rapid heart beat as flutters as well.
Often, people feel anxious when they have heart palpitations, but the occurrence isn't usually a cause for alarm. An individual may develop heart flutters for a wide range of reasons. For example, he may notice palpitations when he feels extremely stressed or anxious or in relation to strenuous exercise. The consumption of caffeine and nicotine may also cause a person to experience flutters; they may develop as a side effect of some medications as well. For instance, certain types of cold medicines and asthma treatments are known to cause heart flutters.
Sometimes a person may also experience heart flutters because of something unrelated to his heart that is occurring within his body. For example, a person may experience heart palpitations because of hormonal changes. This is particularly true of women who are menstruating, pregnant, or menopausal. Additionally, a person may also experience palpitations in relation to an illness that causes fever.
Unfortunately, some cases of heart flutters are not innocent. Sometimes, heart palpitations are a sign of a health problem. For example, a person may experience heart flutters when he has a heart condition. Palpitations may also develop in relation to conditions that involve the thyroid gland. Since heart palpitations are sometimes a sign of a serious health problem, a person may do well to mention them to a doctor.