What Are Palpitations?

Heart palpitations (pal-pih-TAY-shuns) are feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart. Symptoms of palpitations are very common

Although heart palpitations can be worrisome, they're usually harmless. However in certain cases, palpitations can be a symptom of a more serious heart condition, such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), that might require treatment.

How Do You Diagnose Palpitations?

The initial step is a careful history taking process. Dr. Krishnan will sit down with you and discuss
your symptoms, what triggers them, and what further tests need to be performed. In many cases
a simple EKG or portable Holter Monitor may suffice. In other cases more advanced testing may need to be performed.

• 12-lead EKG

• Echocardiography

• Holter or Event Monitoring

• Stress testing

• Implantable Loop Recorder

What Are Arrhythmias?

A heart arrhythmia (uh-RITH-me-uh) is an irregular heartbeat. Heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats don't work properly. The faulty signaling causes the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or irregularly.

Heart arrhythmias may feel like a fluttering or racing heart and may be harmless. However, some heart arrhythmias may cause bothersome — sometimes even life-threatening — signs and symptoms.

However, sometimes it's normal for a person to have a fast or slow heart rate. For example, the heart rate may increase with exercise or slow down during sleep.

Heart arrhythmia treatment may include medications, catheter procedures, implanted devices or surgery to control or eliminate fast, slow or irregular heartbeats. A heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent heart damage that can trigger certain heart arrhythmias.