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

POTS can also be accompanied by such symptoms as lightheadedness, fatigue, headaches, brain fog, blurry vision, tremors, nausea and palpitations.

From Washington Post

Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and heart palpitations.

From Washington Post

Later signs of Lyme can include nerve pain, neck stiffness, sudden weakness in facial muscles, arthritis, heart palpitations, cognitive problems and brain and spinal cord inflammation.

From Time

According to surveys and studies of small groups of children, the symptoms include fatigue, headache and heart palpitations.

From Washington Post

So the game ratified Smith’s Heisman Trophy, and it upheld the Alabama offense as a starship that hovered over all its games, and it furthered a season in which Alabama fans felt barely a palpitation.

From Washington Post

The vague breathing of the storm was audible; the silence was broken by an obscure palpitation.

From Project Gutenberg

When Tabea was admitted to the cell, and stood before the revered Friedsam, she felt an unexpected palpitation.

From Project Gutenberg

My lungs with difficulty performed their office, and my heart was affected with violent palpitation.

From Project Gutenberg

It produces a sort of palpitation that one hardly knows whether to call wretched or delightful.

From Project Gutenberg

From his earliest years, we learn, he was subject to palpitation and nervous excitement.

From Project Gutenberg

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