Today there has been an increased awareness around the world about heart attacks. Any change in the heartbeat, whether it is a slower heart beat or a pounding heart and shortness of breath, a missed heartbeat, feelings of heart pounding in the chest, or an extra heartbeat are all cause for concern among patients and their families. A person experiencing palpitations is aware of the abnormal rhythm or arrhythmia of the heartbeats.


Tachycardia is a condition where the patient feels a pounding in his heart and his heartbeat rates rise above 100 per minute. In general, heart and pulse rates are anywhere from 60 to 100 per minute, varying from individual to individual. It is perfectly normal to see heartbeat rates rise when a person is exercising or doing some stressful physical activity.


On the other hand, heart beat rates could fall to 55 per minute in individuals who are resting.

Pounding heartbeat causes in an individual could be activities like physical exercise, panic attack, anxiety disorder, or a disease of the heart muscle called hypertropic cardiomyopathy. Certain medications such as those that act as stimulants of the nervous system and those used as muscle relaxants to relieve severe muscle could also cause a pounding heart. A patient experiencing chest pain in addition to a pounding heart sensation should consult a cardiologist as soon as possible as this could indicate a heart disorder. It can be a very scary experience when you wake up at night with the feeling of your heart pounding in your chest and you feel lightheaded and can’t seem to breathe in enough oxygen.

Several people who complain of a pounding heart experience this problem of pounding heart after eating, especially after a rich meal high on carbohydrates and processed foods high in sodium and saturated fats. Caffeine is also known to increase pounding heart rate. Digestion requires a steady flow of blood, and hence, the heart has to pump harder to meet the demand. Digesting a rich meal places a heavy demand for oxygen from the blood, making the heart work at its hardest. A meal rich in saturated fats could make the heart work harder as the blood becomes thicker, particularly if the person does not drink sufficient quantities of water after the meal. Foods rich in sugar might cause an adrenaline rush, called a “sugar high” in everyday language, causing heart pounding in the chest.

Gastro-esophageal reflux disorder or acid reflux is also known to produce a pounding heart beat. Often, people who experience a pounding heart after meals are so scared to eat that they cut down drastically on their food intake or skip meals. Drinking lots of water or drinking green tea helps bring down the pounding.

When the doctor finds no abnormality in the functioning of the heart despite the patient’s feelings of heart pounding in throat or in the neck, he might order a series of tests, including blood tests to verify cholesterol levels. If the heart pounding is experienced only after meals, the patient is often advised to split his meals into several small meals and avoid heavy large meals. If food sensitivity is suspected to be the cause of the problem, the patient may be asked to keep a food diary, noting down the contents of each meal, to help identify the trigger that causes the heart pounding symptom. Alcohol and caffeine are known to cause pounding heart episodes, particularly when the individual is dehydrated.

Apart from other factors, heart palpitations may also be caused by a condition called mitral valve prolapse, in which the value separating the upper and lower chambers of the heart malfunctions or does not function effectively to close the chambers. Sometimes, the condition may cause sharp stabs of pain too for brief periods. Panic attacks and hyperventilation triggered by a phobia or stress can also result in chest pain, light headedness, and a pounding heart, making people think that they are having a heart attack. People in stressful jobs often go through pounding heart episodes as it a typical reaction of the body to acute stress.

Hearing a sound in the ear like a heart pounding could mean that the person has an infection of the inner ear. Often when the sinuses swell, it puts pressure on the artery that runs on that side of the head and you hear the sound of the blood flow. It has nothing to do with heart problems and can be treated with antibiotics. The disorder is called pulasitle tinnitus.   

Shortness of breath and pounding heart in the chest all the time need to be checked with a doctor, particularly if the individual has a family history of heart disorders. Doctors may perform procedures to rule out heart disorders even when there is no evidence of it, based on several symptoms taken together during a physical examination. Hyperthyroidism, anemia, and low levels of potassium in the blood as well as low oxygen in the blood are all liable to cause palpitations.

Steps that one can take to reduce palpitations include cutting down on the consumption of alcohol and caffeine and taking steps to reduce anxiety and stress. Practicing breathing exercises and relaxation techniques help control the feeing of heart pounding in your ears. Regular yoga and Tai Chi practice can bring down the number of episodes of pounding heartbeat that are experienced. Meditation is very effective in reducing panic attacks and anxiety. Eating well-balanced meals with lots of green vegetables, fruits, and fiber helps the body to digest the food more easily, without causing a strain on the heart.  Cutting down on saturated fats, sodium, other preservatives used in processed foods, sugar, and refined flour is the best way to beat obesity and maintain ideal body weight. With reduced weight, the strain on the heart is eased. More fiber and less fat in the diet drastically cuts down the risk of heart disease caused by high cholesterol.  Regular exercise keeps high blood pressure and its associated problems at bay. Worrisome symptoms such as a feeling of your heart pounding in the chest at all times, chest pain, and shortness of breath gradually disappear as the body becomes leaner and stronger.