What are heart palpitations?

Heart palpitations are the sensation that your heart is beating in a way that feels unusual or more noticeable than normal. Patients often describe palpitations as:

• Racing

• Skipping beats

• Fluttering

• Pounding

• Beating irregularly

Palpitations may last for a few seconds, several minutes, or longer. Some people feel the sensation in the chest, while others notice it in the throat or neck.

Common Causes of Occasional Palpitations

In many cases, palpitations are harmless and temporary. They can occur due to:

Benign Causes

• Stress and anxiety

• Caffeine

• Alcohol

• Nicotine

• Dehydration

• Hormonal fluctuations

Cardiac Causes

• Atrial fibrillation

• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

• Premature atrial contractions (PACs)

• Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)

• Bradycardia

• Structural heart disease

Identifying whether palpitations are benign or cardiac in origin is essential for proper treatment.

When are palpitations concerning?

Frequent, persistent, or worsening palpitations require medical evaluation to rule out underlying heart conditions, particularly arrhythmia (an abnormal heart rhythm). In some cases, palpitations may be associated with dizziness, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or fainting symptoms that should never be ignored.

At Vivify Medical, Dr. Beniaminovitz provides comprehensive evaluation for adults experiencing recurrent palpitations. Using advanced diagnostic technologies, we identify the underlying cause and develop a personalized treatment plan to protect your long-term heart health.

When should I see a cardiologist for heart palpitations?

While occasional heart palpitations are often harmless, certain symptoms warrant a prompt cardiology evaluation.

Schedule a Diagnostic Evaluation If You Experience:

• Frequent palpitations

• A sudden racing heart without a clear trigger

• Palpitations accompanied by dizziness or lightheadedness

• Shortness of breath

• Chest discomfort

• A history of heart disease

• A prior diagnosis of arrhythmia with new or worsening symptoms

At Vivify Medical, Dr. Beniaminovitz performs a comprehensive evaluation to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms. Diagnostic testing may include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) to assess your heart’s electrical activity

• Echocardiogram to evaluate heart structure and function

• Stress testing to assess for exercise-induced arrhythmias

• Holter monitor or extended rhythm monitoring to record your heart rhythm over several days

Identifying the cause is essential to determining whether your palpitations are benign or related to a more serious rhythm disorder.

How Are Heart Palpitations Diagnosed?

At Vivify Medical, we perform a detailed cardiovascular evaluation that may include:

• Comprehensive symptom review

• Medication and stimulant assessment

• Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)

• Echocardiogram

• Exercise stress testing

• Holter monitoring (24–48 hours)

• Extended ambulatory rhythm monitoring

• Mobile cardiac telemetry

Because palpitations are often intermittent, rhythm monitoring is one of the most important tools for accurate diagnosis.

Our goal is to correlate your symptoms with your heart’s electrical activity.

How are heart palpitations treated?

Treatment for heart palpitations depends entirely on the underlying cause identified during your evaluation.

If Palpitations Are Benign

Occasional palpitations related to stress, activity, or stimulants often do not require medication. Many patients improve significantly with targeted lifestyle adjustments, including:

• Reducing caffeine and alcohol

• Improving hydration

• Stress reduction strategies

• Sleep optimization

• Structured, consistent exercise

• Avoiding known personal triggers

These foundational strategies can dramatically reduce symptom frequency and improve overall cardiovascular health.

If Palpitations Are Caused by an Arrhythmia

If testing identifies an underlying arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), treatment may include:

• Anti-arrhythmic medications

• Beta-blockers

• Calcium channel blockers

• Electrophysiology referral for advanced rhythm evaluation

• Catheter ablation (when appropriate)

• Pacemaker evaluation for certain rhythm disorders

The right approach depends on the specific type of arrhythmia, symptom severity, and your overall cardiovascular risk profile.

Heart Palpitations and Anxiety: How Do We Tell the Difference?

Palpitations can overlap with anxiety symptoms. However, anxiety does not exclude arrhythmia.

We evaluate:

• Rhythm patterns on monitoring

• Heart rate trends

• Trigger patterns

• Structural heart findings

• Symptom correlation

Objective cardiac testing ensures that serious heart conditions are not overlooked.

Why Choose Vivify Medical for Palpitations in NYC?

• Cardiologist-led rhythm evaluation

• Advanced in-office cardiac testing

• Comprehensive arrhythmia workup

• Personalized treatment plans

• Convenient Financial District location

We focus on identifying the exact cause of your symptoms rather than simply suppressing them.