What Does It Mean When My Heart Skips a Beat?
What Does It Mean When My Heart Skips a Beat?
"Why does my heart skip a crazy beat?" Maybe it’s love, like Diana Ross sings about.
Most of the time, a fast-beating, pounding, or skipping heart isn't reason to worry. But sometimes these palpitations can be signs of trouble.
Can You Have AFib and Not Know It?
The signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) might seem pretty hard to ignore: a racing heart, trouble breathing, chest pain, and dizziness. You’d feel these symptoms and know something was wrong, right?Maybe not. Nearly a quarter of the estimated 2.7 million people who have AFib have no symptoms at all. The problem is called silent AFib.With this condition, the chambers on the top of your heart, called the atria, flutter instead of beating normally, which can put stress on the heart muscle. Since...
Read the Can You Have AFib and Not Know It? article > >
Many say a palpitation feels like a heaviness in the chest, head, or even the neck. Sometimes there’s a flip-flopping in the chest, or the heart may stop or skip for a brief second.
The answer is yes when you're also having shortness of breath, severe chest pain, heavy sweating, and dizziness, or you feel like you're going to pass out. You might be having a heart attack.
Don't drive yourself to the hospital. Let the ambulance come to you. Paramedics can begin treatment as soon as they arrive. You’ll get help sooner than if you go to the ER on your own.
Yes, if your pulse is more than 100 beats per minute and you've not been exercising and don't have a fever.
Yes, too, if you have:
Possibly. Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat.
Cells in your heart make electric signals that cause your ticker to pump at a regular pace.
If you have AFib, your heart's two small upper chambers (the atria) don't beat normally. Instead they beat too fast, with the electric signals triggered from different parts of the chambers. That causes a rapid thumping in your chest. You may also have dizziness, sweating, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Or, you might not have any symptoms.
You can manage AFib with your doctor's help. But if you don't get it treated, you’re at risk for a serious blood clot or a stroke.
Ask your doctor to check you for the condition if you think you might have it.
Most of the time, a fast-beating, pounding, or skipping heart isn't reason to worry. But sometimes these palpitations can be signs of trouble.
Recommended Related to Atrial Fibrillation
Can You Have AFib and Not Know It?
The signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) might seem pretty hard to ignore: a racing heart, trouble breathing, chest pain, and dizziness. You’d feel these symptoms and know something was wrong, right?Maybe not. Nearly a quarter of the estimated 2.7 million people who have AFib have no symptoms at all. The problem is called silent AFib.With this condition, the chambers on the top of your heart, called the atria, flutter instead of beating normally, which can put stress on the heart muscle. Since...
Read the Can You Have AFib and Not Know It? article > >
Many say a palpitation feels like a heaviness in the chest, head, or even the neck. Sometimes there’s a flip-flopping in the chest, or the heart may stop or skip for a brief second.
Do You Need to Call 911?
The answer is yes when you're also having shortness of breath, severe chest pain, heavy sweating, and dizziness, or you feel like you're going to pass out. You might be having a heart attack.
Don't drive yourself to the hospital. Let the ambulance come to you. Paramedics can begin treatment as soon as they arrive. You’ll get help sooner than if you go to the ER on your own.
Do You Need to See a Doctor?
Yes, if your pulse is more than 100 beats per minute and you've not been exercising and don't have a fever.
Yes, too, if you have:
- Palpitations coming in groups of three or more, or if they keep happening
- High cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure -- you're at risk for heart disease
- New or different palpitations
Could It Be AFib?
Possibly. Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat.
Cells in your heart make electric signals that cause your ticker to pump at a regular pace.
If you have AFib, your heart's two small upper chambers (the atria) don't beat normally. Instead they beat too fast, with the electric signals triggered from different parts of the chambers. That causes a rapid thumping in your chest. You may also have dizziness, sweating, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Or, you might not have any symptoms.
You can manage AFib with your doctor's help. But if you don't get it treated, you’re at risk for a serious blood clot or a stroke.
Ask your doctor to check you for the condition if you think you might have it.
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