Managing heart conditions

Understanding heart palpitations

Your heart palpitations may be due to atrial fibrillation (AFib). Find out how an insertable heart monitor can help.

What are heart palpitations?

If you’ve experienced

  • Fast heartbeats,
  • Fluttering heartbeats,
  • Skipped heartbeats, or
  • Heartbeats that feel like they are pumping harder than normal,

you may have an undiagnosed heart condition called an arrhythmia, or an abnormal heartbeat. The most common abnormal heartbeat is AFib. Having AFib increases your risk of stroke and other health conditions.

Normal heartbeat

A small pulse of electric current spreads quickly through the heart to make the muscle contract.

AFib

In AFib, the heart’s upper chambers quiver faster than the rest of the heart.

Prepare for your doctor visit.

Track your heart history and share it with your doctor.

Complete this discussion guide and share it with your doctor during your next visit.

Find a doctor.

Type in your ZIP code to find a doctor near you who has experience with insertable heart monitors for heart palpitations, unexplained fainting, stroke, and atrial fibrillation AFib. 

An insertable heart monitor can help.

Older man in blue shirt on cellphone with an illustration of a heart monitoring device over heart

A small heart monitor can watch your heart for 3–4.5 years. An insertable heart monitor, also known as a “loop recorder,” can automatically catch abnormal heartbeats if they happen and send that information directly to your doctor. This can help your doctor diagnose your palpitations and choose the right treatment for you.

Do I have atrial fibrillation?

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