4. Stimulants
There is a wide variety of substances that we consume, sometimes daily, that accelerate our heart. They do so by directly acting on the receptors of our cardiac muscles, telling our heart to go faster or beat more strongly; or, in most cases, by going to our brain stem and stimulating our heart rate, as well as our breath rate and other signs of physical acceleration.
Among these substances, there is some common use, such as caffeine or nicotine. Stronger drugs like cocaine and amphetamines also have this effect on our heart and may cause palpitations. Even some unsuspected products can increase our heart rate.
For example, some cough medicines have stimulant substances called pseudoephedrines; if you are taking cough medication and notice palpitations on your chest or neck, check the label of your medication. Although palpitations aren’t dangerous, they can be uncomfortable, so you can try a different medicine.