Heart Palpitations Specialist

What are heart palpitations?

Heart palpitations refer to changes in the rhythm of your heart that you can feel. When your heart is racing, pounding, or missing heartbeats, you’re experiencing heart palpitations.

You can develop heart palpitations at any time, even when at rest. Though the feeling may set off alarm bells, in most cases, heart palpitations aren’t a symptom of anything too serious. For example, stress, caffeine, and exercise may cause heart palpitations.

However, changes in the rhythm of your heart can develop from an arrhythmia. If you feel lightheaded, have chest pain, or have difficulty breathing when you have heart palpitations, schedule an appointment at RK Heart & Vascular Care to get some answers.

What types of heart conditions cause heart palpitations?

Heart palpitations are one of the primary symptoms of an arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat. There are many types of arrhythmias, including:

Atrial fibrillation (AFib)

AFib is a common arrhythmia, which causes an irregular heartbeat due to problems with the electrical activity that controls the rhythm and rate of your heartbeat. 

Supraventricular tachycardia

Supraventricular tachycardia causes a fast and erratic heartbeat that starts and stops quickly.

What tests can find the cause of heart palpitations?

When you visit RK Heart & Vascular Care with concerns about heart palpitations, Dr. Bomb conducts a thorough examination to determine what tests you need to diagnose the cause.

Testing for heart palpitations might include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Stress testing
• Event monitor
• Holter monitor
• Implantable loop recorder

Dr. Bomb does EKGs and stress testing at the office. 

For event monitoring and Holter monitoring, you wear a device that measures your heart’s electrical activity over a period of time while you go about your daily routine. An implantable loop recorder is a device that monitors heart rhythm for up to three years. 

With the at-home heart palpitation tests, Dr. Bomb monitors cardiac activity using remote monitoring.

What are the treatments for heart palpitations?

Treatment for heart palpitations depends on the cause. In most cases, there’s no need for any treatment. However, if your heart palpitations are due to an arrhythmia, Dr. Bomb customizes a treatment plan to improve the rhythm of your heartbeat. 

Treatment might include:

• Medications
• Electrical cardioversion — a special procedure that resets the heartbeat 
• Catheter ablation — a procedure that disconnects the cause of the abnormal rhythm  
• Permanent pacemaker
• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)

In some cases, Dr. Bomb may recommend heart surgery.

For an examination of your heart palpitations, call RK Heart & Vascular Care or schedule an appointment online today.