HEART palpitation is often  ignored by many thinking that it could just be due to strong coffee or stress.

Pounding heart, dizziness and shortness of breath,  sometimes accompanied by chest pain, can be a dangerous sign of heart arrhythmia, a condition that can lead to heart attack or stroke.

A post in iVillage news said that atrial fibrillation is a rapid, abnormal heartbeat that is more common with advancing age. The condition can cause blood to pool in the heart's upper chambers and increase the risk of stroke.

Atrial fibrillation can also adversely affect people's quality of life, resulting in chronic fatigue and debilitating pain. Many adults especially those starting to develop heart condition know very little about this and how it seriously affects their long-term health.

Here are warning signs of atrial fibrillation:

* Chest pounding like rumbling thunder, or like beating drums pounding or fish flopping.

* Frequent palpitations - the feeling that your heart has skipped a beat.

* Shortness of breath following physical exertion.

* Reduced capacity for exercise.

* Chest pain.

* Fainting spells or dizziness.

Heart Rhythm Society in US said there are treatments for the condition to control these symptoms and restore normal heart rhythm thus preventing  blood clots and stroke.

Some people may be more prone to atrial fibrillation but the most common risk factors are in people  60 years of age and above, having diabetes, other heart problems such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and congestive heart failure, suffering from thyroid disease or chronic lung disease, having sleep apnea, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or taking stimulants and those suffering from serious illness or infection.