What term refers to a pounding or racing heart?

The term that denotes a pounding or racing heart is palpitation. Palpitations are often described as an uncomfortable awareness of the heart beating, which can feel like it’s fluttering, pounding, or beating very fast. This sensation can occur during physical activity, periods of anxiety, or even at rest.

The other terms refer to different heart conditions: arrhythmia generally describes any irregular heartbeat, which may or may not be felt. Bradycardia specifically refers to a slow heart rate (typically less than 60 beats per minute), while tachycardia indicates a rapid heart rate (generally over 100 beats per minute). Neither bradycardia nor tachycardia captures the subjective experience of feeling the heart race or pound, which is the distinct characteristic of palpitations. Therefore, palpitation is the most accurate term for that specific sensation of a racing heart.