Some people notice their heart skipping a beat when they are drifting off to sleep; others, when they stand up after bending over. Palpitations can be triggered by: stress, anxiety, or panic.

What are the signs and symptoms of SCA? For most people, the first sign of SCA is fainting or a loss of consciousness, which happens when the heart stops beating. Breathing may also stop at this time. Some people may experience dizziness or lightheadedness just before they faint.

Palpitations are basically a heightened awareness of your own heartbeat, explains Swadia. Your heart might beat faster, slower or differently than usual for a few reasons. Rapid, fast heartbeat at rest could be caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, thyroid pills, cold medication, asthma drugs or diet pills.

Good options include meditation, tai chi, and yoga. Try sitting cross-legged and taking a slow breath in through your nostrils and then out through your mouth. Repeat until you feel calm. You should also focus on relaxing throughout the day, not just when you feel palpitations or a racing heart.

You might also feel overly aware of your own heartbeat. Most of the time, heart palpitations are harmless and go away on their own. In some cases, however, there may be a medical reason behind them, called an arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm).

Awareness of one’s heartbeat is known to be correlated with a number of psychological problems, including anxiety disorders. Patients typically perceive their heart rate more clearly than most people. “But someone who does not suffer from this type of disorder can also be aware of their heartbeat,” said Roy.

PVCs become more of a concern if they happen frequently. “If more than 10% to 15% of a person’s heartbeats in 24 hours are PVCs, that’s excessive,” Bentz said. The more PVCs occur, the more they can potentially cause a condition called cardiomyopathy (a weakened heart muscle).