Anxiety disorders are more common in some families, suggesting that genetic factors may be important. These disorders may also develop as a result of emotional or social problems, occasionally starting after a stressful or frightening event. One theory is that some of these problems are caused by faulty thinking. Someone having these palpitations and feeling his heart beating a little fast may believe that he is going to have a heart attack. This may lead to increasing levels of anxiety, and even more palpitations.
Health professionals can help by giving a clear explanation of the symptoms.
The doctor may point out that physical and psychological feelings are closely related. For example, breathlessness or dizziness can occur in anyone feeling under stress, and do not necessarily mean that there is a serious disease in the rest of the body. Health professionals may also encourage a person to try and identify any social or emotional problems. There are various ways of trying to deal with these, but one helpful approach can be to use problem-solving techniques. These can be complex or as simple as listing the problems and selecting one for action.