What do palpitations mean

Your heart rhythm may be changing during the palpitations. Some types of heart palpitations are harmless and resolve on their own without treatment. But in other cases, heart palpitations can indicate a serious condition. Some heart palpitations are harmless, but they can indicate an underlying illness when you also have:. Seek medical attention right away if you have heart palpitations and a diagnosed heart problem.

Also seek medical attention if you have palpitations that occur with other symptoms such as:. Your doctor will conduct a thorough physical exam to identify a cause. Be prepared to answer questions about your:.

If necessary, your doctor may refer you to a heart specialist called a cardiologist. Tests to help rule out certain diseases or heart problems include:. Treatment depends on the cause of your palpitations.

Your doctor will need to address any underlying medical conditions. If your palpitations are due to lifestyle choices such as smoking or consuming too much caffeine, cutting down or eliminating those substances may be all that you need to do. Both of these may cause palpitations that may be brief or prolonged. Both should be evaluated by your physician.

Trouble from below. Early contractions of the ventricles can also cause palpitations. A solo premature ventricular contraction, or even a couple in a row, isn't usually a problem unless it's accompanied by fainting, shortness of breath, or other symptoms.

A long run of premature ventricular contractions one after the other, though, is worrisome. They can degenerate into the deadly cardiac chaos known as ventricular fibrillation. Other sources. Problems with the heart's timekeeper, called the pacemaker or sinus node, can cause palpitations.

So can a breakdown in the coordination between the upper and lower chambers. Scar tissue in the heart from a heart attack or other injury and valve problems such as mitral valve prolapse can also lead to palpitations. Palpitations tend to come and go. Unfortunately, they are usually gone by the time you get to the doctor's office. That makes pinning them down a joint effort.

One of the most helpful pieces of information is your story of how your heart palpitations feel, how often they strike, and when. Try to answer some of these questions before seeing your doctor:. A physical exam can reveal telltale signs of palpitations. Your doctor may hear a murmur or other sound when listening to your heart that suggests a problem with one of the heart's valves.

Your doctor may also blood tests if he or she suspects a thyroid imbalance , anemia , or low potassium, or other problems that can cause or contribute to palpitations. An electrocardiogram ECG is a standard tool for evaluating someone with palpitations. This recording of your heart's electrical activity shows the heart's rhythm and any overt or subtle disturbances, but only over the course of 12 seconds or so.

Your doctor may want to record your heart rhythm for longer to identify the cause of the palpitations. If your palpitations come with chest pain, your doctor may want you to have an exercise stress test. If they come with a racing pulse or dizziness, an electrophysiology study using a special probe inserted into the heart may be in order.

If you are at risk for a heart rhythm problem, or if palpitations are interfering with your life or mental health, a recording of your heart's rhythm for 24 hours or even longer may capture an electrical "signature" of the problem.

Getting visual evidence of this signature can help determine how best to treat your palpitations. A Holter monitor constantly records your heart's rhythm for 24 hours as you go about your daily activities. Small patches called electrodes are stuck onto your chest and attached to a recorder that you carry in a pocket or wear around your neck or waist. During the test, you keep a diary of what you are doing and how you feel, along with the time of day of each entry.

Palpitations are feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing. They can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck. Normally the heart beats 60 to times per minute. The rate may drop below 60 beats per minute in people who exercise routinely or take medicines that slow the heart.

If your heart rate is fast over beats per minute , this is called tachycardia. A heart rate slower than 60 is called bradycardia. An occasional extra heartbeat out of rhythm is known as extrasystole. Palpitations are not serious most of the time. Sensations representing an abnormal heart rhythm arrhythmia may be more serious. Once a serious cause has been ruled out by your provider, try not to pay close attention to heart palpitations.

This may cause stress. However, contact your provider if you notice a sudden increase or a change in them. If you go to an emergency room, you will be connected to a heart monitor.

However, most people with palpitations do not need to go to an emergency room for treatment. If your provider finds you have an abnormal heart rhythm, other tests may be done.

This may include:. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Zimetbaum PJ. Overview of palpitations in adults. Accessed March 15, Heart palpitations. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Lopez-Jimenez F.