Heart

Palpitations may occur with changes in the: Heart rate, which is the speed at which the heart beats Heart rhythm, which is the pattern of the heart beats Force of ventricular contraction, which reflects how vigorously the heart is pumping Arrhythmia is the term used to describe irregularities or abnormal patterns of the heart’s pumping cycle.

When you tell your doctor about the palpitations, you will likely be asked a number of questions, such as: How often the palpitations occur How long they last What circumstances bring on the palpitations Whether other symptoms occur with the palpitations. The doctor will then perform a physical examination to look for signs of conditions

In most people, palpitations do not indicate underlying heart disease, and treatment other than reassurance or lifestyle changes is not needed. In some cases, your doctor may discover that your palpitations are due to an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) that warrants medical treatment. Several types of treatments are available for palpitations caused by problems with heart rate or