Why do palpitations occur in young adults?

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I understand your concern. Some of the common causes of palpitation at a young age can be due to strong emotional responses, such as stress or anxiety. Extra-cardiac stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system (inappropriate stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve which innervates the heart), can be caused by anxiety and stress due to acute or chronic elevations in glucocorticoids and catecholamines hormones, overuse of nicotine and caffeine, overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Arrhythmias may include very fast heart rates (tachycardia), unusually slow heart rates (bradycardia), or an irregular heart rhythm. Common abnormal heart rhythms are ectopic beat, premature atrial contraction, junctional escape beat, premature ventricular contraction, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and heart block. Palpitation may be associated with electrolyte imbalances of magnesium, potassium, and other salts in serum. Gastrointestinal distress such as bloating or indigestion, along with muscular imbalances and poor posture, can also irritate the vagus nerve causing palpitations. Above mentioned reasons can be a cause of palpitation with lightheadedness in your case. Yes, you should definitely be concerned about it, a thorough investigation should be done to rule out the exact cause of palpitation. I would suggest you get the following tests. Do thyroid profile, to rule out hyperthyroidism, 24-hour Holter monitoring which will record the ECG (electrocardiogram) continuously during a 24-hour or 48-hour period. If palpitation occurs during this period it will be recorded in ECG recording and we can rule out the cardiac rhythm at the time. For this type of monitoring to be helpful, palpitation must be occurring at least once a day. If they are less frequent (you have not mentioned the frequency of palpitations) the chances of detecting anything with continuous 24, or even 48-hour monitoring, are substantially lowered. More recent technology such as the loop recorder allows continuous recording for up to 7 days. This is a very important and basic test for someone who presents with palpitation as the main symptom. It will rule out the possibility of arrhythmia which are the most dangerous cause of palpitations and can be sometimes fatal also, serum electrolytes, a disturbance in serum electrolytes can cause palpitations, but they can be corrected easily. The above-mentioned investigations are the basic test that can be helpful in finding out the cause of palpitations. I suggest you do the following. Quit smoking and limit excess alcohol. Exercise daily for 45 minutes. Avoid oily, fatty, and spicy food for some days. Include fibers in your diet. In case of elevated anxiety levels, I suggest you consult a cardiologist, discuss with them, and take the medicine Benzodiazepine. I hope your queries are resolved and any further queries are welcome.