Heart Palpitations During COVID: What to Know

Heart palpitations during COVID can be linked to fever, dehydration, stress, medicines, or the body's recovery response, but new or persistent symptoms should be assessed. Palpitations may feel like pounding, fluttering, skipped beats, or a fast heartbeat in your chest. The sensation may be brief or may return when you stand, walk, develop a fever, or feel anxious.

A raised temperature makes the body work harder, so the heart may beat faster. Losing fluids through fever, sweating, vomiting, or diarrhoea can also make the pulse feel prominent. Poor sleep, worry, pain, and reduced fitness during illness may add to the sensation. Caffeine, nicotine, decongestants, and some cold medicines can make a racing heartbeat more noticeable; check the label and ask a pharmacist before changing a prescribed medicine.

Palpitations can continue while the body is recovering, but COVID is not the only possible explanation. Other causes include anaemia, thyroid overactivity, low blood sugar, or an abnormal rhythm such as atrial fibrillation. A clinician may ask about your pulse, symptoms, medicines, fluid intake, and medical history, then decide whether an examination, blood tests, or an ECG is appropriate.

Rest and rise slowly, especially if the heartbeat changes when you stand. Unless a clinician has told you to restrict fluids, take regular sips of water or an oral rehydration drink, particularly if you have been sweating or losing fluids. Avoid strenuous exercise while you have a fever or feel unwell, and limit caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and stimulant cold remedies.

Keep a simple record of when the palpitations start, how long they last, what you were doing, and whether you had dizziness, chest discomfort, or breathlessness. If you can do so safely, note your pulse during an episode and arrange medical advice if episodes keep returning, last longer, or continue after the infection improves.

Seek emergency help now for palpitations with chest pain or pressure, severe or worsening breathlessness, fainting, marked weakness, confusion, or blue or grey lips. Get urgent medical advice for a heartbeat that stays very fast or irregular, repeated near-fainting, new swelling in the legs, or symptoms that are worsening rather than settling. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or seriously unwell.

If the symptoms are mild but new, frequent, or still present after your COVID illness, contact a doctor or clinic. Assessment is especially sensible if you have known heart disease, thyroid disease, anaemia, diabetes, or take medicines that affect heart rate.

Ask whether your symptoms could be related to dehydration, fever, a medicine, or an irregular rhythm; whether you need an ECG or blood tests; and when it is safe to resume exercise. Mention any fainting, chest symptoms, breathlessness, new swelling, or palpitations that happen during activity.