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Having palpitations means that you are unusually aware of your heartbeat. The experience of palpitations is often described differently by different people. Some people report a vague "fluttering" in their chest or the feeling of a "skipped beat," while others note a "pounding sensation" or feel that their hearts are "jumping out of their chest." Palpitations are rarely painful.

What are the different types of palpitations?


While your doctor will likely not diagnose an arrhythmia based on your demonstration, it can be a very helpful start if you are not experiencing arrhythmia while you are in your doctor's office (which means your doctor will be unable to record the arrhythmia on an EKG during the visit).

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerJohn M. Miller, MD - Electrophysiology
Last RevisedAugust 9, 2010

