Q I never used to notice my heartbeat, but lately I can just hear it. Why am I suddenly aware of it? (39, office worker)
A Your heart always beats, but the brain normally filters out the signal. Palpitations occur when the heart genuinely beats harder or faster, or when the brain becomes so sensitive that it stops filtering. Both are possible, so telling them apart is the first step.
Detailed Answer
The most common misunderstanding is that "feeling it" means "something is wrong with the heart." In reality there are two paths.
One is an actual change in the heartbeat: a faster rate, a beat that feels skipped, or a stronger contraction. The other is a normal heartbeat with a lowered detection threshold. When anxiety, tension, or poor sleep continue, the body amplifies its own internal sensations.
In consultation we ask when it happens, in what situation, how long it lasts, and whether the rhythm is regular or irregular. If needed we use an ECG, a 24-hour Holter monitor, or blood tests for thyroid function and anaemia, because the response depends entirely on the cause.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine does not treat palpitations as a heart-only problem. It looks at the link between the chest, the digestion and sleep. We distinguish a state where long-standing tension has pushed energy upward, a state where sluggish digestion has left dampness stagnating inside, and a state where the body's fluids are depleted so it cannot settle. The same "palpitation" is approached differently depending on whether it is worse at night or after meals.
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