palpitation

[ pal-pi-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of palpitating.
2. an unusually or abnormally rapid or violent beating of the heart.

Word History and Origins

Origin of palpitation¹

1595–1605; < Latin palpitātiōn- (stem of palpitātiō ) a throbbing. See palpitate, -ion

Example Sentences

NGL, as someone who has heart palpitations every time I’m in a situation where I need to go around the room and give my name and an interesting fact, I was nervous.

From Los Angeles Times

The drug can be more harmful and unpredictable than cannabis and can cause dizziness, breathing problems, heart palpitations, psychosis and seizures.

From BBC

Kirthana Balachandran, 21, was diagnosed when she was only three months old and gets muscle pain and back pain and can have palpitations when walking uphill.

From BBC

Symptoms may include weakness, slow pulse, heart palpitations, tingling or numbness in hands, feet or lips and confusion.

From Seattle Times

It can lead to palpitations, seizures, vomiting and could prove fatal in some cases.

From BBC

More About Palpitation

What does palpitation mean?

Palpitation is most commonly used to refer to a heart palpitation—an unusually or abnormally rapid or violent beating of the heart.

Heart palpitations typically involve the heart beating hard and faster, and they may also involve an irregularity in rhythm.

Palpitation can also refer to the act, process, or an instance of palpitating—pulsing, throbbing, or trembling. When your heart palpitates, it beats more quickly or in a fluttering way.

Example: My doctor said my heart palpitations may be due to a combination of stress and too much caffeine.

Where does palpitation come from?

The first records of the word palpitation come from around 1600. It comes from the Latin palpitātiōn-, meaning “a throbbing,” from the Latin verb palpitāre, meaning “to pulsate.”

Any rapid or irregular heartbeat can be called a palpitation. Frequent palpitations may be a sign of an illness. However, palpitations can happen occasionally for many other reasons, such as strenuous exercise, anxiety, or as a side effect of a medication. The caffeine in things like coffee and cola has been known to cause heart palpitation. Other times, you might get a heart palpitation upon seeing your crush or realizing you’re about to get in trouble.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to palpitation?

• palpitate (verb)

What are some synonyms for palpitation?

• heart palpitation
• pulsation
• throbbing

What are some words that share a root or word element with palpitation? 

 

• palpable

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing palpitation?

 

• heart
• flutter
• quiver
• pound
• chest
• arrhythmia
• anxiety
• stress
• medication
• caffeine

How is palpitation used in real life?

Palpitation is most commonly used in the phrase heart palpitation. 

If you have problems sleeping through the night, you may be at risk for atrial fibrillation (afib), an irregular heart rate that may cause heart palpitations and is a leading cause of stroke. #HarvardHealth https://t.co/TKXDHbpsKs pic.twitter.com/7prgv7CIxS

— Harvard Health (@HarvardHealth) October 17, 2018

How stress and anxiety can cause heart palpitations https://t.co/mga9H3jSft#Ad @SpireCardiff pic.twitter.com/AD263AhhzV

— WalesOnline (@WalesOnline) November 6, 2018

my five year old cousin ran a 5k last weekend.

i almost had a heart palpitation climbing a flight of stairs after breakfast this morning

— herpolsheimer (@herpolshnerps) September 5, 2017

 

 

Try using palpitation!

Which of the following things could cause a heart palpitation? 

A. illness
B. anxiety
C. caffeine
D. all of the above