Knowra Palpitations Palpitations Palpitations are the subjective sensation of an abnormal, forceful, rapid, or irregular heartbeat. They can occur with normal heart rhythms or with an arrhythmia.
Premature ventricular contraction : An early heartbeat originating in a ventricle, often followed by a pause and a more forceful beat. This common rhythm disturbance can feel like a skipped beat or a thump.
Heart rate : The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually measured in beats per minute. A sensation of racing often corresponds to an elevated heart rate, though not always.
Holter monitor : A portable electrocardiogram recorder that continuously tracks heart rhythm, usually for one or two days. Continuous recording can capture frequent episodes that a brief clinic ECG misses.
Tachycardia : A heart rate faster than the normal resting range for a person’s age and circumstances. A fast measured rate is one possible cause of palpitations, not their definition.
Premature atrial contraction : An early heartbeat originating in an atrium, before the next expected beat. An extra atrial beat can create a fluttering or skipped-beat sensation.
Heart rhythm : The pattern and timing of electrical activation and contraction in the heart. Palpitations can arise from perceived irregularity even when the rate is not high.
Event monitor : A wearable heart-rhythm recorder activated during symptoms or configured to detect abnormal rhythms. Longer monitoring helps document palpitations that occur too infrequently for a Holter recording.
Arrhythmia : Any disturbance in the rate, regularity, or origin of the heart’s electrical rhythm. Arrhythmias may cause palpitations, but the sensation can occur without one.
Atrial fibrillation : An irregular heart rhythm in which disorganized electrical activity causes rapid, uncoordinated atrial contractions. Its irregular rhythm may be felt as persistent fluttering or uneven pounding.
Electrocardiography : The recording of the heart’s electrical activity using electrodes placed on the body. An electrocardiogram can distinguish a perceived abnormal beat from a documented rhythm disturbance.
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