US Medical Term · symptoms
Heart Palpitations
Palpitaciones cardíacas
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Heart Palpitations |
| Spanish (Español) | Palpitaciones cardíacas |
| Chinese (中文) | 心悸 |
| Korean (한국어) | 심계항진 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Hồi hộp tim |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Tibok-tibok ng puso |
| Portuguese (Português) | Palpitações cardíacas |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ใจสั่น |
| Japanese (日本語) | 動悸 |
What it means
Heart palpitations are sensations that your heart is beating hard, fast, fluttering, or skipping a beat. They may be felt in the chest, throat, or neck. Palpitations are often caused by caffeine, alcohol, stress, anxiety, dehydration, or lack of sleep. Less commonly they signal heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias), thyroid disease, anemia, or heart valve problems. Most palpitations are harmless and brief. Call 911 if palpitations occur with chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, severe dizziness, or if you have a known heart condition. Keep a log of when they occur — frequency, duration, and associated symptoms — and share it with your doctor.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I can feel my heart pounding and fluttering in my chest even when I am sitting still.
Puedo sentir mi corazón latiendo fuerte y palpitando en el pecho aunque esté sentado quieto.
My heart feels like it is skipping beats and racing at the same time.
Mi corazón siente como si saltara latidos y acelerara al mismo tiempo.
I have had heart palpitations with dizziness and mild chest discomfort for the past hour.
He tenido palpitaciones cardíacas con mareo y leve malestar en el pecho durante la última hora.
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R00 Abnormalities of heart beatRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026