Health Conditions A-Z Cardiovascular Disorders Heart Disease Can Dehydration Cause Heart Palpitations? By Angela Ryan Lee, MD Angela Ryan Lee, MD Angela Ryan Lee, MD, FACC, is a board-certified cardiology and internal medicine physician. She also holds board certifications from the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and the National Board of Echocardiography. health's editorial guidelines Updated on January 29, 2024 Medically reviewed by Rafle Fernandez, MD Medically reviewed by Rafle Fernandez, MD Rafle Fernandez MD, MBA, FACC, is a board-certified cardiologist practicing in Miami, Florida. learn more Though the heart beats around 60 to 100 times per minute, heart palpitations are a feeling of the heart beating faster, more forcefully, or irregularly. It can feel like a pounding or racing in the chest, throat, or neck or as though the heart skipped a beat. Your heart may be beating faster than normal for a few reasons—but can a lack of fluids cause heart palpitations? The answer is yes: Dehydration can lead to a faster heart rate because your heart needs to work harder to get blood throughout your body. Learn more about the connection between dehydration and heart palpitations. Lacheev/Getty Images How Does Dehydration Cause Heart Palpitations? Dehydration happens when there's a decrease in total body water content. The decrease may be due to fluid loss, a lack of fluid intake, or a combination of the two. During dehydration, the heart has to work harder to pump blood. Without proper hydration, it's difficult for your heart to get blood through blood vessels to muscles and assist in effective muscle functions. Dehydration can sometimes be accompanied by electrolyte imbalance, like low potassium. This electrolyte imbalance is another cause of palpitations. Of note, a rapid heart rate is a symptom of severe dehydration. Severe dehydration requires immediate medical attention. What Else Can Cause Heart Palpitations? Most times, palpitations are not a sign of something serious. There could be an underlying issue that needs to be addressed or lifestyle factors that can cause them, such as: Alcohol or caffeine consumption Anxiety or stress Certain conditions, such as anemia, heart disease, and hyperthyroidism Exercise Low levels of blood, blood sugar, or oxygen Medications like decongestants and attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) medications What Are the Signs of Dehydration? Mild or moderate signs of dehydration are: Dark yellow urineDecreased urinationHeadachesMuscle crampsSkin that's dry and coolSticky or dry mouthThirst Other than a rapid heart rate, severe dehydration signs are as follows: Confusion or deliriumDizziness or lightheadednessIrritabilityListlessnessRapid breathingShock, which means blood flow is low throughout the bodySkin that's dry but shriveledSunken eyesUnconsciousnessVery dark yellow urine How Do You Stop Heart Palpitations From Dehydration? Stopping heart palpitations due to dehydration starts with treating the dehydration, and drinking water can help with rehydration in general. Yet, because heart palpitations are typical of severe cases of dehydration, medical attention becomes necessary. Severe dehydration requires hospitalization, where you'll receive fluids with salt intravenously. What Should You Do if You're Dehydrated? The level of dehydration you're experiencing will determine what you need to do. Drinking a lot of water—or sports drinks for electrolytes—can help resolve mild cases of dehydration, while hospitalization is the best course of action for severe dehydration. How To Prevent Heart Palpitations Not all instances of heart palpitations are preventable, but there are practices for potentially avoiding or preventing a faster heart rate. You can track when your heart rate increases to determine if it happens after certain parts of your routine or if there's a pattern. You can also talk with a healthcare provider about your medications or dietary supplements if you think they are linked to your palpitations. Additionally, limiting alcohol and caffeine can be beneficial for reducing if and when palpitations occur. When To Contact a Healthcare Provider See a healthcare provider if this is your first time experiencing heart palpitations. They can make sure it's nothing serious causing the palpitations. If you've had heart palpitations in the past and they are now different, that's another reason to visit a provider. Seek immediate medical care for severe dehydration symptoms and for heart palpitations if they are accompanied by symptoms like: Chest painDizzinessLightheadednessLoss of consciousnessShortness of breath Unusual sweating A Quick Review There are a few different causes of palpitations, including dehydration. Specifically, heart palpitations are linked to severe dehydration; dehydration makes your heart work harder than usual. It's time to see a healthcare provider if you are concerned about your palpitations—whether they're tied to potential dehydration or not. Worrisome signs like fainting or near-fainting, chest discomfort, or shortness of breath are all reasons to seek medical attention immediately. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 7 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. Heart palpitations. American Heart Association. Protect your heart and health during the 'dog days' of summer. Shaheen NA, Alqahtani AA, Assiri H, Alkhodair R, Hussein MA. Public knowledge of dehydration and fluid intake practices: variation by participants' characteristics. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1346. doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6252-5. MedlinePlus. Dehydration. 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