Heart Palpitations: Anxiety or a Heart Problem?
October 25, 2026 · 2 min read
Medically reviewed by the physicians of Gilead Heart & Vascular · Last reviewed: 2026-10-25
Palpitations tied to a stressful moment that settle down once you calm down are often anxiety-related, while palpitations that happen at rest, or come with chest pain, dizziness, or fainting, are worth a cardiology evaluation.
Why Palpitations Can Be Hard to Sort Out
Palpitations, an awareness of your own heartbeat, whether it's racing, fluttering, or pounding, can stem from anxiety, caffeine, dehydration, or a true heart rhythm problem, and the sensation itself often feels identical no matter the cause.
Patterns That Point More Toward Anxiety
Palpitations tied to a specific stressful moment, that resolve with calming down or slow breathing, and that aren't paired with other physical symptoms are more often related to anxiety or a stress response.
Patterns Worth a Cardiology Evaluation
- Palpitations paired with chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness
- Episodes that happen at rest, unrelated to stress or caffeine
- Fainting or near-fainting alongside a racing heartbeat
- A family history of heart rhythm problems or sudden cardiac events
- Palpitations that are becoming more frequent or lasting longer over time
How an Evaluation Sorts It Out
Because palpitations are often intermittent, a single in-office EKG doesn't always catch an episode in progress. Extended heart rhythm monitoring, worn for days or weeks, is often more useful for correlating symptoms with what your heart is actually doing at that moment.
Keeping a Simple Symptom Log
If your palpitations come and go, jotting down when they happen, what you were doing, how long they lasted, and anything else you noticed can be genuinely useful at your appointment. Patterns that aren't obvious in the moment often become clear once they're written down over a week or two, and that log can help guide whether extended monitoring makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anxiety really cause heart palpitations?
Yes. Anxiety triggers the same stress hormones that raise heart rate, and palpitations are a common physical symptom of it.
How can I tell if my palpitations are serious?
Palpitations paired with chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting, or that happen at rest without an obvious trigger, are worth a cardiology evaluation.
What test catches palpitations that come and go?
Extended heart rhythm monitoring, worn for days or weeks, is often more useful than a single in-office EKG for intermittent symptoms.
Related Reading
Want to be seen soon and skip the wait at a place close to home? If your palpitations aren't adding up, or you just want peace of mind, Gilead Heart & Vascular can evaluate your heart's rhythm at a location near you across Arizona.
Have a question about your heart health?
Talk it through with your doctor at any Gilead Heart & Vascular location.