Palpitations
John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
- Palpitations facts
- What are palpitations?
- What is the normal heartbeat?
- What are symptoms of arrhythmias?
- What are the causes of arrhythmias?
- How are palpitations evaluated?
- What is the treatment for palpitations?
- Patient Comments: Palpitations - Symptoms
- Patient Comments: Palpitations - Effective Treatments
- Patient Comments: Palpitations - Causes
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Palpitations facts
- Palpitations can occur without heart disease or as a result of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
- The SA node is the natural pacemaker of the heart.
- Slow heart rhythms are called bradycardias. Rapid heart rhythms are called tachycardias.
- The average normal heart beats at a rate of 60 to 100 times per minute.
- Some patients with arrhythmias have no symptoms while others can have symptoms, such as palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
- Arrhythmias can occur because of disease of the heart muscle, valves, electrical system, or arteries to the heart (coronary arteries).
- Palpitations can be evaluated with testing, such as blood tests, echocardiogram, EKG, Holter monitor, treadmill testing, and tests of the coronary arteries.
- Palpitations can be relieved in many patients by stress reduction, quitting smoking, and reduction of caffeine and alcohol.
- Some patients have palpitations associated with abnormal heartbeats that can require medications or other medical treatments.
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