Why do I have heart palpitations? I am only 47.

Heart palpitations have many causes. The most common causes include stress, fever, anxiety, use of certain medications (thyroid pills, use of anti asthma medications), excess caffeine, mitral valve prolapse, heart disease, an over active thyroid, abnormal electrolyte levels (potassium or magnesium) and disorders in the heart conduction system.

In most young people, palpitations are transient and benign. However when heart palpitations are associated with symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, sweating or fainting spells, then you definitely need to see a doctor.

If you have had only one episode of heart palpitations then you do not need to worry. However, if you have symptoms or if your palpitations are recurrent, you do need to see a doctor. The work up of palpations begins with an ECG. Some people are asked to wear a halter monitor which records the heart rhythm for a number of days. Your doctor may check your blood to look at the levels of potassium and magnesium.

The treatment depends on the cause. In most cases the treatment is drug therapy or some type of laser ablation of the abnormal electrical pathways in the heart.