Risk factors

You might be at risk of developing palpitations if you:

• Are highly stressed
• Have an anxiety disorder or have regular panic attacks
• Are pregnant
• Take medicines that contain stimulants, such as some cold or asthma medications
• Have an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
• Have other heart problems, such as an arrhythmia, a heart defect, previous heart attack or previous heart surgery