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Why Does Your Heart Sometimes Skip a Beat?
Have you ever felt your heart suddenly skip, flutter, or give an unusually strong thump? These sensations are called palpitations, and they are very common.
Often, the heart has not actually “skipped” a beat. An extra beat occurs earlier than expected, followed by a brief pause. The next normal heartbeat may then feel stronger, creating the sensation that a beat was missed.
These early beats can arise from the upper chambers of the heart—called premature atrial contractions (PACs)—or from the lower chambers—called premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Occasional premature beats are common and, in many people without heart disease, are not dangerous.
They may become more noticeable with stress, poor sleep, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, dehydration or some medicines and stimulants. Sometimes there is no obvious trigger.
But not every palpitation should be ignored. Medical assessment is particularly important if palpitations are frequent or persistent, occur during exercise, or are accompanied by fainting, significant dizziness, chest pain or shortness of breath. A known heart condition or family history of sudden cardiac death also deserves attention.
An ECG may identify the rhythm, but intermittent symptoms sometimes require longer monitoring with a Holter or other ambulatory heart monitor.
The key message: an occasional “skipped beat” is often a premature heartbeat rather than the heart actually stopping—but the pattern and accompanying symptoms matter.
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