Heart Palpitations After Eating

Heart palpitations after eating? You’re not alone. These brief episodes of heart racing, pounding, or fluttering can happen for various reasons. 

Most people experience heart palpitations occasionally, and they’re usually harmless. But sometimes, they can signal an underlying heart issue or medical condition.

Anything affecting your heart’s electrical activity can potentially alter your heartbeat. Common culprits include caffeine or alcohol consumption. Some people may also experience palpitations because of a sensitivity or allergy to certain foods. A drop or spike in blood sugar levels can also result in palpitations. 

Below, we dive into the symptoms, causes, and treatments for post-meal heart palpitations. We’ll also discuss which foods to avoid if your heart races after eating.  

Why Does My Heart Rate Increase After Eating?

Heart palpitations can be a common worry, leading to as many as 16% of doctor visits. They’re especially frequent in people with structural heart disease.

Arrhythmias which cause an abnormal heart rhythm often involve heart palpitations. Most palpitations are minor and aren’t a cause for concern. Sometimes, they may be a sign that you have a serious arrhythmia that may need medical attention.

How does your heart beat?

A piece of tissue in your heart called the sinoatrial (SA) node produces an electrical signal that spreads throughout your heart and coordinates the rhythmic beating of its top and bottom chambers. 

Many factors influence your heart’s rhythm, including:

• Adrenaline and noradrenaline levels

• Recent exercise

• Structural damage or scar tissue in your heart

• Psychiatric factors such as depression, stress, or anxiety

• Electrolyte levels

Heart palpitations are brief episodes of heart fluttering, pounding, or thumping. They tend to be short-lasting but can occur many times per day.

When you experience heart palpitations or heart pounding after eating, you may feel like your heart is:

• Beating too fast

• “Flip-flopping” in your chest

• Skipping a beat

• Fluttering rapidly

• Thumping in your chest

Depending on the underlying cause, you may develop other symptoms such as:

• Chest discomfort or pressure

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical care right away.

If you frequently experience heart palpitations after eating, you may notice specific triggers. 

For example, you may only experience palpitations after eating a large meal or certain ingredients such as monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Here are some potential causes of heart palpitations after eating. More than one factor can contribute to your symptoms.

Blood Sugar Changes

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can both potentially trigger heart palpitations. There’s also a link between high blood sugar and some serious heart arrhythmias.

You might develop low blood sugar if you haven’t eaten for a while or if your body overproduces insulin after eating. Sugary or high-carb meals can cause your blood sugar to spike.

Caffeine and Stimulants

Caffeine consumption can increase levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline in your body. Both chemicals have the potential to trigger heart palpitations and increased nervous system activity. 

Some foods that contain caffeine include:

• Coffee

• Tea

• Chocolate

• Energy drinks

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol, especially binge drinking, is a common trigger for heart palpitations. 

The term "holiday heart syndrome” refers to heart palpitations resulting from excess alcohol consumption. That’s because people commonly report this form of heart palpitation on long weekends and vacations.  

Food Sensitivities and Allergies

Some people are sensitive to specific foods that trigger a reaction or food allergy. In some cases, sensitivities can speed up your heart rate and trigger heart palpitations and other heart-related symptoms.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one ingredient that may cause heart palpitations, for some people, if consumed in excess. You can find it in:

• Restaurant foods

• Deli meats

• Canned vegetable products

• Soups

Spicy Foods

A fast heart rate after eating and heart palpitations are well-known side effects of consuming overly spicy foods. Other common side effects can include:

• Sweating

• Abdominal pain

• Digestive discomfort 

You may be particularly prone to heart palpitations and other symptoms if you don’t regularly consume spicy foods. 

Gastrointestinal Factors

Consuming food can trigger the release of hormones that may lead to heart palpitations. Additionally, people with a hiatal hernia might experience heart compression that leads to arrhythmia. A hiatal hernia is when part of your stomach slips through your diaphragm.

In one 2020 case study, researchers describe a woman who developed heart palpitations after eating as a result of a hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Another possible digestion-related palpitation trigger? Swallowing, according to one 2018 case study. It’s unclear what causes this rare arrhythmia, but adrenaline and noradrenaline release in people with structural heart issues might be to blame. 

Swallow-induced arrhythmia is extremely rare, with only about 50 cases ever reported in medical literature.

Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalances

Dehydration can lead to electrolyte imbalances, low blood pressure, and an increased heart rate. Heart palpitations are a common complication of dehydration.

Consuming meals high in sodium without hydrating properly can cause an electrolyte imbalance and potentially trigger palpitations. 

Emotional Factors

Feeling excited or stressed during a meal can trigger the release of hormones like adrenaline, which may cause heart palpitations. 

Cold Foods or Drinks

In a 2022 case study, researchers reported a man who developed fast, irregular palpitations after drinking several sips of a cold margarita. 

Keep in mind, though, case studies focus on just one person, so we can’t draw any firm conclusions from this type of research. 

Foods to Lower Heart Rate Immediately

If stress or anxiety is causing your heart palpitations, you might find it helpful to sip on chamomile or peppermint tea to help you relax and ease your symptoms.

Risk factors for heart palpitations after eating include:

• Underlying heart conditions. People with a history of arrhythmias, heart disease, or atrial fibrillation may be more prone to experiencing heart palpitations after a meal.

• Anxiety and stress. Having a high amount of stress or anxiety can increase your production of hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, which can trigger heart palpitations.

• Obesity. Excess body weight can place additional strain on your heart, making palpitations more likely. There’s also a link between obesity and several types of arrhythmias.

• Thyroid disease. Elevated thyroid levels (hyperthyroidism) can sometimes cause heart palpitations. 

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). You’re more likely to develop a heart arrhythmia if you have GERD.  

• Medications. Certain medications, like decongestants and appetite suppressants, can affect your heart rate and may trigger palpitations after eating. 

Pounding in your chest after eating? It’s a good idea to let your primary healthcare provider know. They may:

• Review of your personal and family medical history

• Go over your symptoms and when they occur

• Perform a physical exam and listen to your heart

• Order blood tests

If your healthcare provider thinks a heart problem might be causing your symptoms, they may refer you to a cardiology specialist for additional testing.

The main test for diagnosing arrhythmias is an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). An ECG involves placing electrodes on your chest to measure your heart rhythm. 

In some cases, your provider may recommend an exercise stress test, where a device measures your heart activity while you perform a physically demanding workout on a treadmill or stationary bike. 

One limitation of this test: An ECG can only spot heart rate abnormalities if your palpitations occur during the test. In some cases, your doctor might recommend  you wear a Holter monitor, or portable ECG, for 24–48 hours. If your symptoms occur less frequently, your doctor may recommend an event monitor that is either worn or implanted for at least a month.   

Another option is an echocardiogram, which is a type of ultrasound that helps healthcare professionals visualize the heart.

Most heart palpitations aren’t serious and don’t require medical treatment, but they can occasionally be a sign of a life-threatening arrhythmia.

Treatment for heart palpitations after eating will depend on the underlying cause. 

Lifestyle changes that may help reduce heart palpitations after eating include:

• Avoiding trigger foods

• Losing weight if you’re overweight

• Sleeping more

• Quitting smoking

Medications that can help treat heart arrhythmia include:

• Adenosine

• Beta blockers

• Calcium channel blockers

• Digoxin

• Potassium channel blockers

• Sodium channel blockers

Medical procedures available to treat arrhythmia include:

• Cardioversion. A procedure that uses electrical shocks to restore your natural heart rhythm.

• Catheter ablation. A procedure where a healthcare professional threads a long tube called a catheter through your bloodstream until it reaches your heart to create scar tissue.

• Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). ICDs are implanted devices that help restore your heart to a normal rhythm.

• Pacemakers. These are another type of implantable device that can help keep your heartbeat in a proper rhythm.

Preventing heart palpitations after eating primarily involves making dietary and lifestyle changes to reduce triggers. 

Here are some tips:

Avoid Food Triggers

Keep a food diary to track when your heart palpitations happen and see if certain foods are the cause. Here are some foods to avoid if you have heart palpitations: 

• Food and drinks with caffeine

• Alcohol

• Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates 

• Sodas and other sugary drinks

• Large, heavy meals

• Spicy foods

• Cold foods

• Certain additives such as MSG 

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is a common cause of heart racing after eating. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help prevent dehydration

Practice Stress Management

Stress can worsen heart palpitations. Finding time for stress-relieving activities may help you improve your symptoms. Consider adding the following to your routine to help promote relaxation:

• Yoga

• Deep breathing

• Mindfulness

• Journalling 

• Spending time with friends or family

Exercise Regularly

Moderate physical activity can help you maintain your heart health. However, it may be a good idea to avoid high-intensity exercise right after eating.

Heart Healthy Habits

Some general habits you can adopt to improve your heart health include:

• Quitting or avoiding smoking

• Eating a balanced, heart-healthy diet 

• Minimizing your intake of saturated fat and sodium

Seek Medical Attention

Treating underlying health conditions and cardiovascular diseases like the following can help limit your chances of experiencing heart palpitations after eating. 

• Atherosclerosis

• Dyslipidemia and high cholesterol

• High blood pressure

• Diabetes

Getting regular checkups with your primary care provider can help prevent medical conditions that can lead to heart palpitations.