16/02/2026
You may have felt it before.
A flutter.
A thud.
A pause followed by a stronger beat.
These sensations are often described as “palpitations.”
In many cases, what people are feeling are ectopic beats — extra heartbeats that occur slightly earlier than expected. They’re usually followed by a brief pause, which can make the next beat feel more forceful.
They can feel uncomfortable or unsettling.
But in structurally normal hearts, occasional ectopic beats are very common and often benign.
They can be triggered by:
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Hormonal shifts
• Dehydration
Importantly, feeling a palpitation doesn’t automatically mean something dangerous is happening.
That said, frequency, pattern and associated symptoms matter.
If palpitations are new, increasing, prolonged, associated with dizziness, chest discomfort or reduced exercise tolerance — they should be assessed.
Most of the time, once we understand the pattern and rule out underlying issues, the focus shifts from fear to management — supporting sleep, stress, hydration, fitness and overall cardiovascular health.