Most people will experience heart palpitations at least once in their life. However, there are factors that may heighten the chances for developing long-term or more severe heart palpitations.
Illegal Drugs
Cocaine and amphetamines make it a certainty that you will experience heart palpitations and other types of arrhythmias. These substances directly affect the heart and can cause ventricular fibrillation, a heart condition that can lead to sudden death.
Medications and Supplements
Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs like cold medicines and cough suppressants contain pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is a substance that increases blood pressure and heart rates that enhances the likelihood of developing heart palpitations or arrhythmia.
Age
The chances of heart palpitations precipitate with age. Many factors can make this possible: heart attack, drug use and structural heart disease. Also, normal changes the heart may undergo as people age may lessen the conductivity of electrical impulses.
Alcohol Intake
Drinking substantial amounts of alcohol can alter your heart’s electrical signals and make you highly susceptible to develop atrial fibrillation. Long-term alcoholism may lead to either heart palpitations or a weak heart beat.
Nicotine or Caffeine
Nicotine, caffeine and other stimulants speed up your heart rate. Their long term, frequent intake can cause more severe types of heart palpitations, heart diseases or arrhythmias.
Coronary Artery Disease
Arrhythmias and/or heart palpitations can likely develop in people with abnormal heart valves, a history of heart attack, narrowed arteries or other heart conditions.
Diabetes
Patients with uncontrolled diabetes are at high risk of developing high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. Uncontrolled diabetes likewise can likely lead to a heart attack as opposed to patients who have their diabetes controlled.
Poor Electrolyte Balance
Electrolytes in the blood like magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium are needed for the normal conduction of electricity between cells. Levels of electrolyte that may be too low or too high can alter electrical impulses that may cause arrhythmia or heart palpitations.
Genetics
Heart problems that appear at birth can include defects in the heart’s structure and the heart’s ability to function normally that can lead to arrhythmia and heart palpitations.
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure can result in the walls of your heart to become thicker affecting the electrical impulses that circulate in your heart.
Infections
Viral infections like pericarditis or endocarditis can weaken the sac around the heart and the heart muscle making the conveyance of electrical impulses more difficult and for palpitations to occur.
Obesity
This is a risk factor for heart palpitation, arrhythmia, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and coronary heart disease.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea sufferers are at high risk for palpitations, atrial fibrillation or bradycardia.
Previous Heart Surgery
The heart muscles may become damaged during heart surgery resulting in weaker electrical contraction and conduction.
Thyroid Conditions
If your thyroid is underactive or overactive, it heightens your risk of developing heart palpitations or arrhythmia. Your thyroid gland can affect your heart beat regardless if you’re releasing insufficient or too many hormones.
Weakened Heart
Heart problems like narrowed or leaking heart valves, heart failure and heart attack weaken your heart and make you at high risk of developing heart palpitations or arrhythmia.