General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
Palpitations with chest pain, difficulty breathing, faintness or a sudden loss of strength need urgent care: call 15 or 112.
See a doctor if palpitations recur often, last, change, worsen or worry you. The doctor looks for their cause.
Describe their onset, duration, regularity and whether they occur at rest or during activity. Mention treatment changes; do not stop treatment yourself.
A resting ECG records the heart’s electrical activity to look for a rhythm disorder. It is often performed outside an episode of palpitations.
For brief or intermittent episodes, a Holter ECG can record the rhythm over several hours or days. Its duration depends on the medical situation.
Atrial fibrillation is one possible cause and may be intermittent. Ask to review the findings; if it is suspected or diagnosed, the doctor refers you to a cardiologist.
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