A good orgasm, a job interview or realising you've left the hair straighteners on are just a few of the things that can make your heart beat faster, a new study has revealed.

The poll, in which 2,000 adults took part, also found watching your favourite football team in an important game, losing your phone and seeing your crush are guaranteed to cause a spike in your heart rate.

Other things which get your heart going include making a last minute bid for something on eBay, sending a text to the wrong person and, of course, getting married.

It also emerged the average adult will experience a racing heart four times a week, with more than three quarters admitting it’s fairly easy to get their heart pumping, the Mirror reports.

Dr Sarah Brewer, GP and medical director at Healthspan, which commissioned the research, said: “We all have moments where we start to worry or become scared about something, causing our heart rate to spike in panic which is perfectly normal.

"For most of us, the increased heart rate will drop once the worry or fear has subsided, but a racing heart could also be a serious health issue.

"If your resting pulse rate is unexpectedly below 60 beats per minute (bradycardia), or persistently stays above 100 beats per minute (tachycardia) at rest, see your doctor.

"You should also seek immediate medical advice if your pulse rate is irregular.

"It’s important to keep an eye on your heart health and speak to your GP if your heart races for no reason.”

Attending a job interview is most likely to cause your heart to race

Exercise is most likely to cause your heart to race, followed by having sex, attending a job interview and going on a first date.

Having an argument came fifth, with making a presentation at work and confronting someone about something close behind.

A near-miss in a car or while riding a bike, the moment you realise you have made a mistake at work and taking a driving test completed the top 10.

Driving often leads to a spike in your heart rate with being a passenger in a car driven by a bad driver, getting lost, going too fast and trying to squeeze through a narrow gap all featuring.

Sex often leads to a spike in your heart rate

Many also admitted to suffering a faster heart beat if they struggled to find their vehicle in a car park, worrying if it had been stolen.

Running to catch the last bus or train, losing your passport ahead of a trip and the moment before you are about to take off in a plane also make the top 50.

Worryingly, work-related activities are also to blame for getting the nation’s hearts racing, with many saying it beats faster when they hand in their notice, if their boss asks to see them in the boardroom or they ask for a pay rise.

Other reasons for a racing heart include taking an exam, a first kiss, hearing a noise at night and watching your favourite football team in an important game.

Losing your phone, watching a scary film or TV show, bumping into an ex, sending a 'risky' text and almost spilling a drink will also lead to a faster heartbeat.

But researchers from OnePoll.com found some could suffer a racing heart due to health reasons, with 45% admitting they don’t look after the health of the blood-pumping muscle.

Six in 10 admit they worry about their heart health, with one in five even consulting a health professional due to their concerns.

And seven in 10 have tried to make a change – big or small – to their lifestyle to try and boost their heart health.

More than a quarter of those surveyed in their 40s, and 40% of those in their 50s, had already been diagnosed with high cholesterol but people are still confused about good and bad cholesterol.

Dr Brewer added: “Over half of all adults in the UK have raised cholesterol according to Heart UK – putting them at increased risk of heart disease.

"Making one or two small changes to heart health can make a difference.

"If you are on a statin, you may benefit from taking supplements containing vitamin D and co-enzyme Q10 (ubiquinol) as statins lower circulation levels of both these important nutrients.”

Top 50 things most likely to make your heart race

  1. Exercise
  2. Having sex/a good orgasm
  3. Going for a job interview
  4. Going on a first date
  5. Having an argument with someone
  6. Making a presentation at work
  7. Confronting someone about something
  8. A near miss while driving or cycling
  9. The moment you realise you've made a mistake at work
  10. Before your driving test
  11. Almost tipping over backwards in a chair
  12. Being a passenger in a car driven by a bad driver
  13. Taking an exam
  14. A first kiss
  15. When you hear a noise at night
  16. Waking up from a nightmare
  17. Making a complaint
  18. Losing sight of your child
  19. Running to catch the last bus/train
  20. Watching your favourite football team in an important game
  21. Losing your phone
  22. Whatever your phobia is e.g. seeing a spider, wasp, snake, clown
  23. Getting lost
  24. Seeing your crush
  25. Watching a scary film or TV show
  26. Realising you forgot to lock the front door
  27. Bumping into your ex
  28. Seeing a spider out the corner of your eye
  29. Winning money
  30. The last five minutes of a football match when your team is winning 1-0
  31. Losing your passport ahead of a trip
  32. As you're about to take off in a plane
  33. When you almost spill a drink
  34. Driving fast in a car
  35. Making a big purchase
  36. Getting married
  37. Making a last minute bid on eBay
  38. Sending an email or text to the wrong person
  39. Sending a 'risky' text
  40. Not being able to find your car in a car park
  41. Driving through a narrow gap
  42. Handing in your notice at work
  43. When the boss asks to see you in the boardroom
  44. Getting on the wrong train/bus
  45. When you realise you've left the iron or hair straighteners on after you've left the house
  46. Realising you've forgotten someone's birthday
  47. A cliffhanger on a TV show or film
  48. Cycling down a hill
  49. Asking for a pay rise
  50. Accidentally liking someone's post or photo when you're stalking them on social media

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