Heart palpitations, which feel like a fluttering, pounding, or irregular heartbeat, are relatively common occurrences for young men. In most cases, these palpitations are harmless, with different causes that are found in one’s everyday routine.
However, for some young men, palpitations can potentially be an early warning sign of an underlying heart condition such as an arrhythmia or other cardiovascular disorder. Palpitations in youth don’t necessarily indicate a serious problem but also shouldn’t be completely dismissed.
In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at heart palpitations in young males – what causes them, how to recognise if they may signify a health issue, and when it makes sense to see a doctor for an evaluation.
What are heart palpitations?
Palpitations are essentially when you become very aware and conscious of your heart’s beating, which normally goes unnoticed since it beats regularly. Your heart rate may actually be normal during palpitations, but the irregular beating is what makes it feel abnormal. Palpitations can last just a few seconds or they can persist for minutes or longer.
Some specific sensations that may be described as heart palpitations include:
- A flip-flopping, pounding, or racing heartbeat
- A fluttering feeling in the chest
- Pounding heart beats that feel abnormally strong
- Skipped or missed heart beats
- An irregular or erratic heartbeat rhythm
What causes heart palpitations in young men?
There are several common causes of heart palpitations specifically in young men:
- Young men who engage in intense exercise or athletic training can experience palpitations due to the increased demand on the heart. Activities like weightlifting, sprinting, etc. can trigger palpitations during or after the activity.
- Stressful lifestyles, anxiety disorders, and conditions like panic attacks are contributors to palpitations in younger populations, including young men.
- The surge of male hormones like testosterone during adolescence/young adulthood can potentially cause heart palpitations in some young men.
- Use of alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, illegal stimulants like cocaine can trigger palpitations in young men. Additionally, many young men take supplements like protein powders or pre-workout formulas that contain stimulants like caffeine.
What underlying conditions can heart palpitations signify for young men?
While heart palpitations in young men are often harmless, there are some underlying conditions that they can potentially signify:
- Conditions like supraventricular tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, or other abnormal heart rhythms may first cause symptoms like palpitations in youth.
- Undiagnosed congenital heart defects such as holes in the heart or valve abnormalities can lead to palpitations, especially during exertion.
- Cardiomyopathy can cause palpitations, shortness of breath, and other symptoms in young adults if left undiagnosed from childhood.
- An overactive thyroid gland can trigger palpitations as well as weight loss, nervousness, and irregular menstrual cycles in young women.
- Dietary deficiencies or excessive loss of electrolytes like potassium and magnesium can disrupt the heart’s electrical activity and cause palpitations.
- Iron deficiency anaemia makes the heart work harder to compensate for low oxygen levels, potentially resulting in palpitations.
- Severe anxiety can significantly raise the heart rate and lead to palpitation episodes in young adults.
What should I do if I’m experiencing heart palpitations?
If you are experiencing heart palpitations, we recommend that you take the following steps to alleviate symptoms as well as address any potential causes:
- Stay calm. Palpitations can feel alarming, but try not to panic as this can make them worse. Take slow, deep breaths to help relax.
- Note the duration and symptoms. Make a mental note of how long the palpitations last and if you have any other symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, or fainting.
- Avoid triggers. Steer clear of potential triggers like caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, stress, or strenuous activity until the palpitations subside.
- Try vagal manoeuvres. Techniques like bearing down, coughing, or putting an ice pack on your face can potentially help calm your heart’s rhythm.
- If prolonged, seek medical care. If palpitations last longer than a few minutes or are accompanied by concerning symptoms, call your doctor or go to the ER, especially if you have existing heart disease.
- See your doctor. Make an appointment if you experience recurrent, persistent, or worsening palpitations over time. Your doctor can evaluate and potentially order tests like Holter monitoring.
- Know your risks. Palpitations warrant closer medical attention for those with prior heart issues, other medical conditions, or strong family cardiac history.
When should a young man see a doctor for palpitations?
It is advisable to see a doctor for heart palpitations in the following situations to ensure that they’re not signifying a more significant health problem:
- If the palpitations are recurrent or frequent – More than just an occasional isolated episode would warrant medical evaluation.
- If the palpitations last for an extended period – Palpitations that persist for several minutes or longer are concerning.
- If accompanied by other symptoms – Palpitations combined with symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting or near-fainting episodes need to be checked out.
- If they occur during low levels of activity – Palpitations that happen during rest or low-intensity activities like walking are more worrisome.
- If there is a family history of heart disease – Having close blood relatives with heart conditions makes palpitations higher risk.
- If there is an underlying medical condition – Palpitations in those with a diagnosed condition like hyperthyroidism or electrolyte disorder require assessment.
- If using certain medications/supplements – Medications, supplements or substances like caffeine that could contribute to palpitations should be reviewed.
- If anxiety is severe – When palpitations are clearly stress/anxiety induced but the anxiety is extreme, medical help is advisable.
What tests may be done to evaluate palpitations in young men?
There are several tests that may be performed to evaluate heart palpitations in young men:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG): This records the electrical activity of the heart to detect any abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias that could be causing palpitations.
- Holter Monitor: A Holter is a portable device worn for 24-48 hours that continuously monitors the heart’s rhythms, allowing doctors to potentially capture palpitation episodes.
- Echocardiogram: This ultrasound imaging test looks at the structure and function of the heart to check for any abnormalities like valve issues or heart muscle problems.
- Stress Test: An exercise stress test monitors the heart during physical activity to see if palpitations are provoked and evaluate the heart’s response to exertion.
- Event Monitor: Similar to a Holter but worn for longer periods, an event monitor allows intermittent recording of palpitation episodes over several weeks.
- Blood Tests: Tests may be done to check electrolyte levels (potassium, magnesium), thyroid hormone levels, and rule out anaemia – all factors that could contribute to palpitations.
- Tilt Table Test: This tests how well the heart and nervous system respond to a change in body position, which can sometimes induce palpitations.
Are palpitations more serious if a young man has a family history of heart disease?
Yes, heart palpitations in a young man with a family history of heart disease may be viewed as more serious and require more thorough evaluation. There are a few key reasons for this:
- Many heart conditions that can cause palpitations have a genetic component and can run in families. If close blood relatives have arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, cardiomyopathies or other disorders, a young man experiencing palpitations could be at higher risk of having inherited the same or similar condition.
- With a positive family history, guidelines recommend more proactive and earlier screening for any potential underlying cardiac issues in young people once they start experiencing symptoms like palpitations. This allows prompt detection before problems potentially progress.
- When evaluating palpitation causes, doctors take family history into account. A young man with a strong family history of heart disease has a higher “pre-test probability” that his palpitations may be due to an inherited heart condition versus other causes.
- Even if occasional palpitations seem benign, thorough testing is generally recommended for those with a worrisome family history to definitively rule out silent inherited arrhythmias, structural defects or cardiomyopathies.
Where can I go in Melbourne if I’m experiencing heart palpitations?
If you need your heart palpitations evaluated, you can get help at HeartWest, the largest cardiology group in the western and northwestern corridors of Melbourne, with 4 major locations and 3 satellite sites.
At HeartWest, our qualified experts will provide you with the best cardiology care. You will experience nothing but professionalism, care and courtesy; from your first interaction with our staff, to going through tests, procedures and consultations.
Our cardiologists have expertise in all fields of adult cardiology, including;
Contact us for efficient and affordable specialist heart care services.
