Why is my heart racing after eating?
Usually it’s harmless, if it passes and you feel well. Your heart works harder after a meal while you digest. But check what came with the food. Three known triggers are ones you can cut.
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Is a higher heart rate after eating normal?
Yes. In small studies of healthy people, heart rate went up after real meals, but not after a pretend one.
In one study of 4 people, the heart pumped most 30 to 60 minutes after the meal. After a small meal it was close to normal by 2 hours. After a big one, it was still well up.
Think of a kitchen after a big order. It stays busy for longer. That’s normal work, not a fault.
Feeling it race, pound or flutter is called palpitations. The NHS says they’re common and not usually a sign of anything serious.
To check your pulse, sit still for 5 minutes first, with no caffeine or smoking. Then count the beats for 30 seconds and double it.
- Below 60 bpmToo slow for most people, but can be normal if you’re very fit. See your GP if you faint or feel tired.
- 60 up to 100 bpmNormal resting rate for adults.
- Above 100 bpmAbove 100 at rest is too fast for most people. See your GP if it’s often this fast.
Sources: BHF: checking your pulse; BHF: your heart rate
Is your resting pulse often above 100? Speak to your GP, especially if you also feel faint or dizzy. Call 999 if it won’t stop, or comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, or feeling faint or fainting.
What causes palpitations after eating?
The three triggers to check are caffeine, alcohol and big meals high in sugar. The BHF names all three, and you can cut all three.
| Trigger | Clue | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Big meal high in sugar or refined carbs | A large plate of white bread, pasta, cakes or sweets. | Eat smaller meals. |
| Caffeine | Tea, coffee or chocolate with or after the meal. | Cut down and see if it settles. |
| Alcohol | Wine, beer or spirits with the meal. | Cut down or stop. |
| Some medicines | Cold and flu tablets with decongestants (medicines that unblock your nose), or painkillers with added caffeine. | Tell your doctor or pharmacist. |
| Stomach surgery | Sweating, dizziness or feeling sick soon after eating. | Speak to your GP or dietitian. |
Alcohol can raise your heart rate for a while and make it feel like it’s pounding. See how much alcohol is safe and when to stop caffeine.
Some asthma inhalers and the thyroid medicine levothyroxine are on the BHF list too. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber. Mention any new palpitations to your doctor or pharmacist instead.
Worry can feed it. The BHF says anxiety can make your heart race, and palpitations can trigger anxiety. See stress and your heart rate.
Irregular heartbeat or skipped beats after eating?
Skipped or extra beats are called ectopic beats. The BHF says a missed beat here and there is nothing to worry about.
If your pulse feels irregular, count it for a full 60 seconds. An uneven pulse could be a sign of a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia). If you’re concerned, talk to your GP.
What a GP may check
- 1
Your diary
What you ate and drank, and when it started.
- 2
ECG
Small pads on your skin check your heart’s electrical signals.
- 3
Longer trace
A Holter monitor, worn for longer, if the ECG looks normal.
One ECG is a photo, not a film. Palpitations might not show up on it. For many people, no cause is ever found.
Questions to take with you:
- Could any of my medicines be causing this?
- Do I need an ECG, or a heart trace I wear for longer?
- Could my thyroid or low iron be a cause?
The NHS lists an overactive thyroid and low iron (anaemia) as possible causes. See blood tests for palpitations.
Fast heart rate after eating, with sweating or dizziness
After some stomach surgery, food can rush into the bowel too fast. Guts UK calls it dumping syndrome. It happens in 4 in 10 people after a gastric bypass or a sleeve, which makes the stomach smaller.
| When | What it may be | Other signs |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes, or days later | Food allergy (a different problem, not a known cause of palpitations) | Rash, swollen lips or face, feeling dizzy. |
| 10 to 30 minutes | Early dumping, after stomach surgery | Palpitations, sweating, dizziness, feeling sick. |
| 30 to 60 minutes | Normal digestion | The heart pumped most then in one small study. |
| 1 to 3 hours | Late dumping, after stomach surgery | Weakness, confusion, hunger, sweating, palpitations and shaking. |
Sources: NHS: food allergy; Guts UK; Waaler 1991
Low blood sugar can also cause palpitations, sweating and shaking. The NHS says it’s rare in people without diabetes. If that’s you and you get these signs with confusion, see a GP.
Dizzy after meals? Blood pressure can drop after eating. One review found this in about 4 in 10 older adults studied, though studies varied a lot.
For low blood pressure, the NHS suggests small, frequent meals. Sitting or lying still for a while after eating may also help.
Sleepy rather than racing? See tired after eating.
How to stop palpitations after eating
If no health condition is causing them, the NHS says avoiding triggers can help. They often don’t need treatment.
Six things to try after meals
- Eat smaller meals, especially if big sugary meals set it off.
- If food triggers it, avoid spicy foods.
- Cut down on tea, coffee and chocolate.
- Cut down on alcohol, or stop.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day.
- Keep a food and symptom diary to find out which foods set it off.
Had stomach surgery? Guts UK suggests eating slowly, and drinking at least 30 minutes after a meal instead of with it.
Take your diary to your GP. If it also races at night, see heart racing at night.
When to speak to a GP
See a GP if you feel well but:
- Your palpitations keep coming back or are happening more often.
- They last longer than a few minutes.
- You have a heart condition, or heart problems run in your family.
- Your resting pulse is often above 100, or you keep getting dizziness and fainting.
- You don’t have diabetes and get shaking, sweating, a fast heartbeat and confusion.
Call 999 or go to A&E if palpitations don’t go away, or come with chest pain, shortness of breath, or feeling faint or fainting. If these have stopped, ask your GP surgery for an urgent appointment or call 111. Don’t drive yourself to A&E.
Call 999 if your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swell. The same goes if you’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe, or your throat feels tight or you struggle to swallow.
Call 999 too if your skin or lips turn blue, grey or pale, or you suddenly feel very confused, drowsy or dizzy. The same goes if someone faints and can’t be woken. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction.