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Palpitation causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [3] Akash Daswaney, M.B.B.S[4]

Overview

Overview

There are a vast number of causes of palpitations, including namely any condition that causes the heart to be rapidly, forcefully, or irregularly. In general, palpitations may be caused by primary abnormalities in the heart (tachycardia or forceful heart beating), reductions in oxygen carrying capacity (anemia), reductions in the volume of blood circulating (dehydration), sympathetic nervous system stiumlation (fever, exertion, panic attacks, drugs), excess hormone production (hyperthyroidism). Pharmacological causes should also be taken into consideration.

Causes

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular Acute coronary syndrome, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, Andersen cardiodysrhythmic periodic paralysis, angina, aortic aneurysm, aortic regurgitation, aortic stenosis, arrhythmia, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, arteriovenous fistula, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial myxoma, atrial septal defect, atrioventricular heart blocks, atypical angina, AV block, AV nodal re-entry tachycardia, bradyarrhythmias, cardiac syndrome X, cardiomegaly, cardiomyopathy, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, cor pulmonale, coronary artery disease, defibrillation, endomyocardial eosinophilic fibrosis, extrasystoles,fosaprepitant, heart attack, heart block, heart failure, hemochromatosis, holiday heart syndrome, hyperkinetic heart syndrome, hypertension, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypotension, ischaemic heart disease, Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, junctional tachycardia, left bundle branch block, long QT syndrome, Lown Ganong Levine syndrome, malignant hypertension, Meprobamate, mitral regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral valve prolapse, myocardial contusion, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, myocarditis, NSTEMI, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, patent ductus arteriosus, pericardial tamponade, postpartum cardiomyopathy, premature atrial contractions, premature ventricular contractions, Prinzmetal’s angina, prosthetic heart valve, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, restrictive cardiomyopathy, rheumatic fever, right bundle branch block, right heart catheterization, right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia, Romano-Ward syndrome, second degree heart block, short QT syndrome, short QT syndrome type 1, short QT syndrome type 2, short QT syndrome type 3, short QT syndrome type 4, short QT syndrome type 5, sick sinus syndrome, sinus tachycardia, STEMI, tachyarrhythmia, Terbutaline, third degree heart block, Timothy syndrome, torsade de pointes, tricuspid insufficiency, unstable angina, valvular heart disease, vasovagal syncope, ventricular aneurysm, ventricular arrhythmia, ventricular septal defect, ventricular tachycardia, Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome
Chemical / poisoning Arsenic trioxide, arsenicals, betel nut, carbon monoxide, insecticide, scorpion sting, senna
Dermatologic Dermatomyositis
Drug Side Effect Alimemazine, almokalant, aminophylline, amiodarone, amitriptyline, amphetamines, anagrelide, antiarrythmics, antidepressants, asenapine, astemizole, atropine, azimilide, azithromycin, bepridil, Benzphetamine, beta blockers, bretylium, budipine, Butorphanol, cardiac glycosides, chloroquine, cibenzoline, cisapride, citalopram, Clemastine, Clomifene, clomipramine, clozapine, cocaine, crizotinib, cyanide, desipramine, Desmopressin, Diethylpropion, digitalis, digoxin, diphenhydramine, disopyramide, disulfiram, dofetilide, dolasetron, doxepin, dronedarone, droperidol, Efavirenz, Epinephrine (aerosol), eribulin mesylate, febuxostat,Felbamate, formoterol, Flavoxate, fluconazole, Flurazepam hydrochloride, gingko biloba, glatiramer acetate, grepafloxacin, halofantrine, haloperidol, hyoscyamine, ibutilide, Isoproterenol (aerosol), imipramine, Imipenem-Cilastatin, indapamide, inotropes, insulin, ketanserin, ketoconazole, Lacosamide, leflunomide, Letrozole, levothyroxine, lidoflazine, lubeluzole, meclofenamate,Megestrol, Metaproterenol, methadone, methadyl acetate, methamphetamine, indomethacin, Metipranolol, midodrine, Milnacipran hydrochloride, mizolastine, moxifloxacin, Nabilone, nabumetone, naltrexone, naratriptan, neuroleptics, Niacin, nicardipine, nicotine, nilotinib, nitrates, Olsalazine, ondansetron, Oprelvekin, orphenadrine, Oxaprozin, Oxcarbazepine, pasireotide, pazopanib, Pentamidine Isethionate, Pergolide, Phendimetrazine, phentermine, phenothiazines, pimozide, piperaquine,Pirbuterol, Polidocanol, prenylamine, probucol, procainamide, propoxyphene, quinidine, quinine, rizatriptan, ranolazine, repaglinide, Repaglinide and Metformin hydrochloride, retigabine, riociguat, ritodrine, ritonavir, saquinavir, serotonin syndrome, sertindole, sertraline, Siltuximab, sotalol, sparfloxacin, Sulindac, sympathomimetics, tedisamil, telithromycin, terfenadine, terodiline, tetrabenazine, theophylline, thioridazine, thyroxine, Tiagabine, Trospium, Valdecoxib, vandetanib, vemurafenib, venlafaxine, vernakalant, Vilazodone, voriconazole, vorinostat, ziprasidone, zonisamide, zotepine, zuclopenthixol
Ear Nose Throat No underlying causes
Endocrine Aldosteronism, De Quervain’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hyperpituitarism, hyperthyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, lymphocytic thyroiditis, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, thyroiditis, adrenal tumor
Environmental Heat exhaustion, heat illness, hypothermia
Gastroenterologic Dumping syndrome, hemochromatosis
Genetic Andersen cardiodysrhythmic periodic paralysis, channelopathies, Friedreich’s ataxia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, hemochromatosis, Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, Romano-Ward syndrome, spherocytosis, Timothy syndrome, Von Hippel-Lindau disease
Hematologic [6][7] Anemia, aplastic anemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, iron deficient anemia, megaloblastic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, pernicious anemia, sickle cell anemia, spherocytosis
Iatrogenic Cardioversion, electrophysiologic studies, heart surgery , pacemaker, pulmonary artery catheter
Infectious Disease Chagas disease, fever, hookworm infection, lyme disease, schistosomiasis, typhus
Musculoskeletal / Ortho Dermatomyositis, myotonic dystrophy, Timothy syndrome
Neurologic Autonomic neuropathy, Friedreich’s ataxia, hyperpituitarism, ganglioneuroma, migraine, pituitary adenoma, vasovagal syncope
Nutritional / Metabolic Acid-base disturbances, acidosis, acute starvation, electrolyte imbalance, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, metabolic acidosis
Obstetric/Gynecologic Menopause, vaginal bleeding after delivery, vaginal bleeding after hysterectomy
Oncologic Adrenal tumor, ganglioneuroma, pheochromocytoma, pituitary adenoma, atrial myxoma
Opthalmologic No underlying causes
Overdose / Toxicity Alimemazine, almokalant, aminophylline, amiodarone, amitriptyline, amphetamines, anagrelide, antiarrythmics, antidepressants, asenapine, astemizole, atropine, azimilide, azithromycin, bepridil, beta blockers, betel nut, bretylium, budipine, cardiac glycosides, chinese restaurant syndrome, chloroquine, cibenzoline, cisapride, citalopram, clomipramine, clozapine, cocaine, crizotinib, cyanide, desipramine, digitalis, digoxin, diphenhydramine, disopyramide, dofetilide, dolasetron, doxepin, dronedarone, droperidol, eribulin mesylate, fluconazole, gingko biloba, glatiramer acetate, grepafloxacin, halofantrine, haloperidol, ibutilide, imipramine, indapamide, inotropes, insulin, ketanserin, ketoconazole, lidoflazine, lubeluzole, methadone, methadyl acetate, methamphetamine, midodrine, mizolastine, moxifloxacin, naratriptan, neuroleptics, nicardipine, nicotine, nilotinib, nitrates, ondansetron, pasireotide, pazopanib, pentamidine, phenothiazines, pimozide, piperaquine, prenylamine, probucol, procainamide, propoxyphene, quinidine, quinine, ranolazine, retigabine, ritodrine, ritonavir, saquinavir, senna, serotonin syndrome, sertindole, sotalol, sparfloxacin, sympathomimetics, tedisamil, telithromycin, terfenadine, terodiline, tetrabenazine, theophylline, thioridazine, thyroxine, vandetanib, vemurafenib, venlafaxine, vernakalant, voriconazole, vorinostat, ziprasidone, zotepine, zuclopenthixol
Psychiatric Acrophobia, anorexia nervosa, anxiety disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, panic attack, phobias, psychiatric disorders, social phobia
Pulmonary Cor pulmonale, hyperventilation, hypoxemia, hypoxia, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory acidosis, sleep apnea
Renal / Electrolyte Renal artery stenosis, renal tubular acidosis
Rheum / Immune / Allergy Amyloidosis, pernicious anemia, rheumatic fever
Sexual No underlying causes
Trauma Electrical injury, myocardial contusion
Urologic No underlying causes
Dental No underlying causes
Miscellaneous Alcohol, alcohol withdrawal, caffeine, exercise, holiday heart syndrome, nicotine withdrawal, zero gravity

Causes in Alphabetical Order [7]

[8] [9]
References

References

  1. Wexler RK, Pleister A, Raman SV (2017). “Palpitations: Evaluation in the Primary Care Setting”. Am Fam Physician. 96 (12): 784–789. PMID 29431371.
  2. McLellan AJ, Kalman JM (2019). “Approach to palpitations”. Aust J Gen Pract. 48 (4): 204–209. doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-17-4436. PMID 31256490.
  3. Crawford MH, Bernstein SJ, Deedwania PC, DiMarco JP, Ferrick KJ, Garson A; et al. (1999). “ACC/AHA guidelines for ambulatory electrocardiography: executive summary and recommendations. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association task force on practice guidelines (committee to revise the guidelines for ambulatory electrocardiography)”. Circulation. 100 (8): 886–93. doi:10.1161/01.cir.100.8.886. PMID 10458728.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Weber BE, Kapoor WN (1996). “Evaluation and outcomes of patients with palpitations”. Am J Med. 100 (2): 138–48. doi:10.1016/s0002-9343(97)89451-x. PMID 8629647.
  5. Clementy N, Fourquet A, Andre C, Bisson A, Pierre B, Fauchier L; et al. (2018). “Benefits of an early management of palpitations”. Medicine (Baltimore). 97 (28): e11466. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000011466. PMC 6076186. PMID 29995805.
  6. Wexler RK, Pleister A, Raman S (2011). “Outpatient approach to palpitations”. Am Fam Physician. 84 (1): 63–9. PMID 21766757.
  7. 7.0 7.1 “StatPearls”. 2020. PMID 28613787.
  8. Clementy N, Fourquet A, Andre C, Bisson A, Pierre B, Fauchier L; et al. (2018). “Benefits of an early management of palpitations”. Medicine (Baltimore). 97 (28): e11466. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000011466. PMC 6076186. PMID https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29995805 Check |pmid= value (help).
  9. Fraser S, Evans MF (1997). “Diagnosis and prognosis of patients with palpitations”. Can Fam Physician. 43: 2131–2. PMC 2255099. PMID 9426932.

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