Bounding Pulse: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, And Prevention

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What causes a bounding pulse?

Medically reviewed by Uzochukwu Ibe, MD, MPH — Written by Zawn Villines — Updated on April 24, 2025

Causes
Symptoms
When to contact a doctor
Treatment
Prevention
FAQ
Summary

A bounding pulse involves a person feeling their heart beating harder or more vigorously than usual. Several physical and mental health conditions can cause an increase in heart rate, such as anxiety, dehydration, fever, and more.

People often worry that a bounding pulse signals a heart problem. However, anxiety or panic attacks cause many cases and will resolve on their own.

People may notice their heartbeat feels stronger in their chest or when they feel for their pulse in the neck or wrist. They might also see an irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations.

Causes of a bounding pulse

A range of medical conditions can cause a bounding pulse. If the symptoms do not go away on their own, people should see a doctor to determine what is causing them.

Some of the most common conditions linked to pulse rate changes include the following:

Anxiety or panic attacks

Anxiety can cause the heart to beat more strongly and more rapidly. Anxiety is a temporary state, and a person’s heartbeat will return to normal when their fear or worry goes away.

In cases of extreme anxiety, people might experience a panic attack. Panic attacks usually come on quickly and reach their peak within minutes. In some cases, they can feel like a heart attack, which can add more anxiety.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), the symptoms of a panic attack include:

heart palpitations, or an irregular heartbeat
a pounding heart
a rapid heartbeat
chest pain or discomfort
shortness of breath
fear of losing control or dying

Panic attacks are not a sign of any underlying medical condition. Nevertheless, if a person experiences severe anxiety or panic attacks, they should speak to their doctor.

Dehydration

Dehydration can disrupt the balance of electrolytes in the body. A person’s heart may beat more rapidly to try and correct these imbalances.

A bounding pulse linked to dehydration is more common in people doing intense exercise, experiencing heat-related exhaustion, and those with metabolic disorders that affect their ability to absorb electrolytes.

Fever

People may feel their heart beating faster or more vigorously with a fever.

When a person’s body heats up trying to fight off an infection, the heart has to work harder. This also occurs when people exercise or spend too much time in hot climates.

Some people also become more sensitive to changes in their heart rate when sick or have a fever, making them more likely to notice changes in their heartbeats.

Drugs

Some drugs and medications can cause the heart to beat faster. Some that may cause this effect include:

caffeine and nicotine
prescription medications, including Ritalin and other ADHD treatments
illicit substances, including cocaine

Hormonal imbalance

Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers. Changes in hormone levels can change the heart rate.

Thyroid diseases, such as hyperthyroidism, which causes the body to produce too much thyroid hormone, are a common cause of hormone imbalances.

People who experience a pounding heart and other symptoms, such as exhaustion or unexplained weight gain or loss, may have a thyroid condition.

Allergic reactions

Mild allergic reactions should not cause changes in people’s heartbeats. However, a severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylactic shock, can produce a rapid, bounding pulse.

Anaphylaxis usually happens within a few minutes of exposure to an allergen.

People experiencing anaphylaxis may have:

rapid, pounding heartbeat
trouble breathing
swollen throat or tongue

Electrical faults in the heart

The heart uses electrical signals to know when to pump and when to relax.

A problem with the heart’s electrical system can cause any of the organ’s four chambers to beat irregularly or pump too fast and hard, creating the sensation of a bounding pulse.

One of the most common symptoms of an electrical problem is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). It often happens during exercise or stress and does not usually indicate a serious health problem.

Heart disease

A racing, bounding heart rate may be a sign of heart disease.

Heart disease is more likely in people with cardiovascular risk factors, such as:

smoking cigarettes
a family history of heart disease
being overweight

When the arteries clog, the heart has to beat harder to pump blood. This damages the heart and may cause chest pain. It can also cause some people to experience a faster heart rate.

Problems with the heart valves

Aortic insufficiency, sometimes called aortic regurgitation, occurs when the heart valves do not close properly. This means that the heart cannot pump blood as well as it should.

Heart disease and other health problems, such as bacterial infection, can weaken the heart and cause problems with the heart valves.

Aortic insufficiency can cause:

a bounding pulse
chest pain
weakness
swelling
fatigue

Shock

Shock is a medical condition where the heart does not pump enough oxygen-rich blood around the body. This can happen when a person has one of the following:

too little blood in their body
a problem with their heart’s pumping mechanism
widened blood vessels

Shock can cause the heart to beat faster to compensate. People may go into shock following a severe injury, especially one that causes organ damage or heavy bleeding. A racing heart following an injury is always a medical emergency.

Symptoms

During an episode of bounding pulse, a person may experience the following:

sudden increase in pulse rate, such that the heart feels as if it is beating very fast
feeling like the heart is beating very hard
anxiety about the heart
heart palpitations or an irregular heart rate

Some people also experience dizziness or light-headedness. These signs can be due to anxiety.

Anxiety can increase a person’s pulse and make the bounding feeling more intense. This change in pulse can make people feel even more anxious. Finding ways to manage anxiety, such as deep breathing or meditation, may help to break this cycle.

When to contact a doctor

A bounding pulse does not necessarily mean a person has a medical condition. However, people who frequently experience a bounding pulse should consult a doctor, especially if the symptom is not due to anxiety.

If a person has other symptoms, it is vital to see a doctor quickly, as a bounding pulse associated with other signs may point to a further medical issue.

People should seek emergency medical help if a bounding pulse happens along with:

chest pain or pressure not associated with exercise and not improving after rest
intense jaw or shoulder pain, especially along with chest pain
confusion or changes in consciousness
a history of heart disease, stroke, or heart attack
starting new medication
exposure to a recent allergen, such as a bee sting
sweating profusely
heavy bleeding or a recent injury
spotting during pregnancy
a head injury

Treatment

A person with a bounding pulse does not usually require treatment. However, people may need treatment for an underlying medical condition if that is causing their symptoms.

Treatment varies depending on the medical condition but may include medication, lifestyle changes, and ongoing medical monitoring.

A doctor may recommend regular stress tests to test how the heart responds to physical stress.

When anxiety causes changes in the pulse, people can try various ways to reduce their stress levels. These may include:

using deep breathing exercises when anxiety arises
learning ways to manage a panic attack
practicing meditation or mindfulness

Some people may also benefit from anti-anxiety medication and should speak to a doctor about the best options.

Prevention

The best ways to prevent a bounding pulse depend on the cause.

When anxiety causes these symptoms, people can prevent pulse changes by avoiding triggers or developing stress-management techniques.

When chronic health conditions cause a bounding pulse, people should speak to their doctor about the best ways to control their symptoms.

If people have concerns about or at risk of cardiovascular disease, a number of strategies can prevent heart health issues.

People can keep their hearts healthy by using the following tips:

maintaining a healthy body weight
eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet
exercising regularly
managing chronic health conditions
keeping anxiety and stress under control
limiting foods linked to heart health issues, including sodium and red meat
eating heart-friendly foods, such as non-fried fish, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables

Frequently asked questions

What conditions cause a bounding pulse?

Heart conditions such as heart disease, aortic insufficiency, electrical faults, and heart valve issues can cause a bounding pulse.

How do you stop a bounding pulse?

Ways to stop a bounding pulse include aiming to calm anxiety or a panic attack, hydrating with electrolytes, using deep breathing exercises, and treating the underlying cause.

Summary

For most people, a bounding pulse is temporary and will resolve independently. Anxiety can be the cause.

If a person frequently experiences a pounding heartbeat, they should speak with their doctor to determine the cause and trigger.

Heart health issues are usually treatable, and treatment can be more effective when caught early. People should speak to a doctor about persistent heart rate changes that cause worry.

Heart Disease
Anxiety / Stress
Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Cat 1
otherheartdisease

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Dehydration: signs, causes, and tips to drink more water. (2024).https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/signs-of-dehydration
Healthy eating. (n.d.).https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/healthy-living/healthy-eating
Mitchell LB. (2024). Reentrant (paroxysmal) supraventricular tachycardias (PSVT).https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular-disorders/specific-cardiac-arrhythmias/reentrant-paroxysmal-supraventricular-tachycardias-psvt?query=paroxysmal%20supraventricular%20tachycardia%20(svt,%20psvt)
Patibandla S, et al. (2023). Aortic insufficiency.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557428/
Overview-Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/overactive-thyroid-hyperthyroidism/
Symptoms: Panic disorder. (n.d.).https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/panic-disorder-agoraphobia/symptoms
Tachycardia: Fast heart rate. (2024).https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia/tachycardia--fast-heart-rate
What is anaphylaxis? (n.d.).https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/about-anaphylaxis/anaphylaxis-signs-and-symptoms/
What is a normal pulse rate? (2024).https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/ask-the-experts/pulse-rate

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Medically reviewed by Uzochukwu Ibe, MD, MPH — Written by Zawn Villines — Updated on April 24, 2025

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