Heart Palpitations: Causes, EKG and When to Be Seen in Loxahatchee & West Palm Beach, FL

What it involves

MedlinePlus describes palpitations as the feeling that your heart is pounding or racing, felt in the chest, throat, or neck, or as an awareness of your own heartbeat. They are a sensation, not a diagnosis. A visit asks what triggers them, how long they last, and whether anything else comes with them, then decides whether a heart tracing or other tests would help.

Who this is for

• Adults who feel their heart racing, fluttering, pounding, or skipping beats, whether it happens rarely or most days
• Patients whose palpitations come with caffeine, stress, or a recent fever
• Patients with thyroid problems or heart disease who notice new heart sensations
• Patients who have had episodes in the past and want to know if tests are needed

What to expect

• Questions about when the sensations start, how long they last, and what you were doing
• A pulse and blood pressure check and a review of caffeine, nicotine, and medicines
• A decision on whether an EKG is useful, available at Loxahatchee and West Palm Beach
• A plan for follow-up, and clear guidance on which symptoms mean calling 911

Everyday triggers that are not serious

MedlinePlus says palpitations are often caused by caffeine, nicotine, anxiety, stress, exercise, a fever, or certain decongestants. If the sensation shows up after your third coffee or during a stressful week, that pattern is useful information, so write it down before your visit.

Causes that need a closer look

MedlinePlus lists more serious causes as abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, which can come from heart disease, and from thyroid problems, electrolyte imbalances, or low oxygen levels. This is why a provider does not just reassure you. The visit separates a harmless trigger from something that needs testing, such as a rhythm problem or an overactive thyroid, which a thyroid care visit can check. NHLBI lists an irregular heartbeat among the symptoms of anemia, and the anemia and low iron guide describes how it is checked with blood work.

Call right away if palpitations come with these

MedlinePlus says to contact a provider immediately if palpitations come with:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Unusual sweating
• Dizziness
• Loss of consciousness

Also call if

MedlinePlus says to call right away if you have frequent extra heartbeats, if you already have heart disease, or if your resting pulse is over 100 beats per minute. If you cannot reach the office, or the symptoms are severe, call 911. The CDC lists chest pain or discomfort, dizziness, and trouble breathing among heart attack symptoms.

What tests may be used

MedlinePlus says a provider may do an electrocardiogram, or EKG, and, if an arrhythmia is suspected, may use a Holter monitor, an echocardiogram, or other heart tests. The practice offers EKG at the Loxahatchee and West Palm Beach offices, described on the EKG and heart health screening page. Belle Glade patients should call first to confirm. Anything beyond an EKG would be arranged through a referral. Palpitations that come with shortness of breath deserve a prompt visit, and the shortness of breath evaluation lists the tests a provider may order for breathing difficulty.

Steps that may help between episodes

MedlinePlus says reducing stimulants, managing stress with yoga or breathing exercises, and regular physical activity can help limit episodes. None of those replace an evaluation if the sensations are new, frequent, or worrying. The heart disease risk review explains the other numbers, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, that your provider will want to see.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — Heart Palpitations
• CDC — About Heart Disease