How to Determine the Difference Between Palpitations and Heart Flutter

Palpitation and cardiac anxiety both refer to discomfort related to heartbeats in medical terms, but there are some differences in terms of perception and symptoms. Cardiac anxiety mainly describes a patient's subjective sensation of rapid heartbeat, strong heartbeat, or irregular heartbeat, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath, but usually does not involve discomfort in the precordial area. Palpitation, on the other hand, is characterized more by the patient's awareness of heartbeat or cardiac anxiety, often accompanied by precordial discomfort such as precordial pain and chest tightness. Palpitation may be caused by various factors, including heart disease, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, or anxiety. While the sensations of cardiac anxiety and palpitation are somewhat similar, palpitation usually includes the symptoms of cardiac anxiety and may also be accompanied by precordial discomfort. If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical attention to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.