Can palpitations damage your heart?

What are the health risks of experiencing heart palpitations? The irregularity of the heart rhythm per se usually does no damage to the heart itself . Patients with a very rapid heart over a long period of time do run a risk of developing enlargement and failure of the heart.

Most of the time, heart palpitations are harmless and go away on their own . In some cases, however, there may be a medical reason behind them, called an arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm). Even though they are common, heart palpitations can make you feel anxious and scared.

Heart palpitations are heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable. Your heart may feel like it’s pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly , often for just a few seconds or minutes. You may also feel these sensations in your throat or neck.