Food for heart palpitations: what to consider

Palpitations are an awareness of a heartbeat that feels fast, forceful, fluttering, or irregular. Dehydration, missed meals, low blood glucose, and stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine can make the sensation more noticeable. Alcohol, stress, and some medicines may also contribute.

Palpitations can present with conditions such as Atrial Fibrillation, Hyperthyroidism, Anaemia, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, or Heart Failure. That does not identify the cause by itself, so a clinician may need to review your pulse, medicines, health history, and other symptoms.

Keep meals regular and include vegetables or fruit, a source of protein, and a starchy food. Sip water through the day, particularly after sweating, vomiting, or diarrhoea. Track what you ate and drank before an episode, including coffee, energy drinks, alcohol, and supplements; patterns can help guide a review.

Reduce or avoid a suspected trigger rather than making many restrictive changes at once. Do not take extra salt, potassium, or supplements to treat palpitations without medical advice. Sit down during an episode and avoid strenuous activity until you feel steady.

Seek emergency care for palpitations with chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, new confusion, or severe dizziness. Arrange prompt medical review if episodes are new, prolonged, increasingly frequent, occur during exertion, or come with ankle swelling or unusual tiredness.

Ask whether you need an electrocardiogram or blood tests, which drinks or medicines might be triggers, and whether your meal pattern should change. Bring your episode diary and a list of prescribed medicines, over-the-counter products, and supplements.