Racing, fluttering or missed beats. Most are harmless; the ones that are not can be found on a recording, then fixed.
General information, not medical advice. If it is happening now, with pain, breathlessness or collapse, call 999.
What it feels like
A flutter, a thump, a run of fast beats, a pause that makes you catch your breath. It often comes at rest, in bed, or after coffee or wine, and it is frightening because it is your heart.
What we do first
A 12-lead ECG in the room, read on the spot. If the palpitations come and go, you take a small recorder home for 24 hours (longer if they are rare). Most people also have an echocardiogram at the same visit so we know the heart's structure is normal.
What we find
- Extra beats from a normal heart, which need reassurance and sometimes nothing else.
- Supraventricular tachycardia, which can be treated with medication or an ablation.
- Atrial fibrillation, where the priority is stroke prevention and rhythm control.
What happens next
You leave with a written plan the same day. If a recording is needed, we ring you with the result the day we read it.
Book it online in under a minute, or call and speak to a person. Either way, you will be seen by Dr Verrin.