Digestive issues and heart palpitations

Vomiting, diarrhoea, or poor intake can cause Dehydration and shifts in body salts, while not eating can contribute to Hypoglycaemia. Pain, worry, and Generalised Anxiety Disorder may make the heartbeat feel more noticeable. Anaemia, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, and Hyperthyroidism can also cause racing or pounding sensations alongside other symptoms.

Palpitations may feel like fluttering, thumping, or skipped beats. They can be harmless, but an irregular rhythm such as Atrial Fibrillation needs medical assessment. The timing, duration, trigger, and accompanying symptoms are useful clues.

Sit down, breathe slowly, and note your pulse sensation, food and fluid intake, recent illness, caffeine, medicines, and activity. Replace fluids gradually after fluid loss, and avoid excess caffeine or stimulant products until the episode is understood.

Book a clinical review if episodes recur, last longer, happen with exercise, or come with fatigue, weight change, or ongoing bowel symptoms. Assessment may include an examination and heart tracing, with blood tests when indicated.

Call emergency services for palpitations with chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, new confusion, or marked weakness. Urgent review is also appropriate for a sustained very fast or irregular heartbeat, especially with dizziness or known heart disease.

Could dehydration, anaemia, thyroid disease, low blood sugar, or an abnormal rhythm explain this? Do I need an ECG or blood tests? Which medicines, supplements, or drinks should I avoid?