Palpitations and Arrhythmia

Abstract

Palpitations are the sensation of rapid, irregular or forceful heart beats. They are common and may indicate an arrhythmia. Abnormal heart rhythms may present with palpitations, chest pain, syncope or even sudden death, but are often silent, only detected when a doctor or nurse notices an abnormal rhythm when examining the patient for another reason. The aim of this article is to provide a strategy for the GP in training to assess whether palpitations signify an arrhythmia or not, and describe the features and management of the more common arrhythmia seen in general practice.