palpitation

when the HEART beats noticeably or irregularly and the person becomes aware of it. The heartbeat is not normally noticed but, with fear, emotion or exercise, it may be felt, unpleasantly so. Palpitations may also be caused by neuroses (see NEUROSIS ), ARRHYTHMIA or heart disease, and a common cause is too much tea, coffee, alcohol or smoking. Where an excess is the cause (tea, coffee, etc) this can be eliminated. For disease-associated palpitations, drugs can be used for control.