Q. Is an irregular heart beat (skipping) something to worry about?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Yes, an irregular heart beat can be cause for concern. An irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, is any alteration in the normal rhythm of the heartbeats. Skipped beats (also called pauses) are a common type of arrhythmia and give a false perception that your heart has stopped beating for a moment. While they may not indicate a serious problem, it's important to pay attention to these sensations as they can sometimes be signs of more serious health issues such as electrical disturbances in the heart caused by abnormal conduction pathways, congestive heart failure or involvement with coronary artery disease.
If you experience skipped beats on occasion and without any other symptoms like dizziness or chest pain then there is no need to worry too much about it—it could just be due to emotional stress or fatigue which usually passes quickly once rest is taken. However if this sensation does become frequent (generally considered more than 10 times per minute) then it’s best that you consult with your doctor just to make sure nothing else might be going on within your body.
A number of tests may also need to be done so that doctors can determine whether or not the arrhythmia requires treatment such as: electrocardiogram (recording electrical activity of the heart), echocardiogram (sound waves used to create images of internal structures), Holter monitor (heart monitoring worn 24 hours/day over several days), exercise tolerance test and cardiac catheterization (to examine blood flow through vessels). Treatment depends on what’s found during these tests but could include medications, lifestyle changes and even surgery if necessary; all should ensure that you feel better again soon enough!