What are palpitations?

Palpitations are skipped, or irregular beats in the rhythm of your heart, and it’s a type of arrhythmia. You develop palpitations when the normal flow of electrical activity through your heart is disrupted.

Your heart’s electrical system regulates the rhythm of your heartbeat. The natural rhythm supports the pumping of blood through your heart and to the rest of your body. An arrhythmia affects this normal function.

Palpitations affect people of all ages, and you can have an irregular heartbeat and not know it. The palpitations can last a few seconds or a few minutes.

What causes palpitations?

Heart palpitations develop from a number of causes and aren’t always a serious health concern. Common causes include:

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Caffeine
• Exercise
• Fatigue
• Hormonal changes
• Low blood pressure
• Nicotine
• Age
• Heart disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Heart disease
• Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease)
• Heart valve disease

You can also have heart palpitations from an unknown cause.

When should I seek cardiovascular care for palpitations?

Palpitations aren’t always a serious health concern. However, the cardiovascular specialists at the Arizona Heart Rhythm Center recommend scheduling a consultation if you experience heart palpitations regularly.

They also highly suggest that you come in for a visit if you have other concerning symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath (SOB), and/or fainting.

What tests do I need to diagnose palpitations?

Your Arizona Heart Rhythm Center specialist determines what tests you need after they complete a thorough history and physical exam. Testing can include:

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

An EKG is a quick in-office test that checks your heart’s electrical activity at the time of the test.

Stress testing

Stress testing assesses how well your heart works when it’s pumping hard, making it easier to find heart problems.

Holter or event monitoring

If an EKG fails to explain why you’re having palpitations, Arizona Heart Rhythm Center could recommend Holter monitoring or event monitoring. These tests monitor the rhythm of your heart over a longer period.

Electrophysiology study

If your Arizona Heart Rhythm Center provider suspects that your palpitations are caused by an arrhythmia, they could carry out an electrophysiology study (EPS) to determine the area of the heart responsible for your irregular heartbeat.

Schedule an appointment at Arizona Heart Rhythm Center today by calling the office or booking online if you’re concerned about palpitations.