Understanding Heart Palpitations and Adrenal Health

Heart palpitations can be one of the most unsettling symptoms in adrenal insufficiency — not just because of how they feel, but because of what they might mean.

Is it low cortisol? Dehydration? Blood sugar? Electrolytes? Or something else entirely?

In this episode, we break down why palpitations happen in adrenal insufficiency and how multiple systems in the body can trigger that same racing, pounding, or fluttering sensation.

We explore:

• Why palpitations are often a response, not the root problem

• How low blood pressure and circulation changes can drive a racing heart

• The role of dehydration and sodium loss — especially in primary adrenal insufficiency

• How electrolyte shifts, including potassium, can affect heart rhythm

• Why low blood sugar can trigger adrenaline and create a “panic-like” feeling

• What “body overload” and autonomic stress can look like in real life

We also walk through how this differs across:

• Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease)

• Secondary and tertiary adrenal insufficiency

• Steroid-induced (iatrogenic) adrenal insufficiency

And we get into the real-life side of this:

• Why symptoms can feel intense even when labs look normal

• How illness, recovery, heat, and overexertion can stack triggers

• The emotional impact of not knowing what your body is signaling

We also discuss how wearable devices (like Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Garmin) and tools like Qaly can help you understand patterns over time — without falling into constant over-monitoring.

Most importantly, we talk about how to approach palpitations in a grounded, safety-focused way — including when they need urgent medical attention.

Because palpitations are not random.
They are often your body trying to compensate, communicate, and protect you.

Understanding that can turn fear into clarity.

Learn more at www.myadrenallife.com or join our My Adrenal Life Facebook group.