Symptom 7: Palpitations: The Heart’s Distress Signal During a Heart Attack
Palpitations, or the feeling of a rapid, fluttering, or pounding heart, could be a symptom of a heart attack. Imagine feeling your heart race, pound, or flutter, even when you’re resting, as though you’ve run a race or faced a sudden fright. This sensation, particularly if it’s accompanied by other symptoms of heart disease, could be a signal of an impending heart attack.
Palpitations are often described as a heightened awareness of your own heartbeat. You might feel as though your heart is beating too fast, skipping a beat, or fluttering. Some people describe it as a flip-flopping sensation or feeling their heart pounding in their chest, throat, or neck.
These unusual sensations of the heartbeat could occur at any time. You might experience palpitations while sitting quietly, reading a book, or even while trying to sleep. The sudden onset, especially during periods of rest or relaxation, could be quite alarming.
Palpitations related to heart disease often result from an arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat. This irregularity could cause the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly, giving rise to the sensation of palpitations. (7)
