Palpitations

Madison Avenue Cardiovascular

Mark L. Meyer, MD, FACP, FACC

Board Certified Physician located in Midtown Manhattan, New York, NY

Heart palpitations can be a foreign and frightening sensation. To make sure your heart palpitations are harmless rather than a sign of a serious heart condition, visit Madison Avenue Cardiovascular in Midtown, Manhattan. Board-certified heart specialist Mark Meyer, MD, FACP, FACC, expertly evaluates heart palpitations and other symptoms to find the underlying cause. Then, he can prescribe the treatment you need to stabilize your heart and whole-person health. Book an appointment online or call the office in New York City today.

914-786-6924

Palpitations Q & A

What are heart palpitations?

Heart palpitations are sensations of heart racing, skipping beats, fluttering, or pounding. They're usually not serious, but in some cases, heart palpitations can be a sign of a heart problem.

Heart palpitations occur mainly in your chest, but you may also feel the strange sensations in your neck and throat.

What triggers heart palpitations?

The cause of heart palpitations isn't always clear, but among the most common triggers are:

Strong emotions like stress and depression
Strenuous exercise
Stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and some cold medications
Alcohol
Hormone fluctuations

Arrhythmias can sometimes cause specific types of palpitations. For example, atrial fibrillation may feel like skipping heartbeats or fluttering, and tachycardia can feel like a fast heart rate.

When should I see a doctor about heart palpitations?

If you have frequent heart palpitations, it's time to book an evaluation at Madison Avenue Cardiovascular.

If you have other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, or dizziness, at the same time as your heart palpitations, seek medical care right away. These could be symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or another potentially fatal heart condition.

What does treatment for heart palpitations involve?

At Madison Avenue Cardiovascular, Dr. Meyer assesses your symptoms and conducts a full exam. He may perform tests such as echocardiograms and exercise stress testing to check on your heart function. These noninvasive tests take place in the office and don't require any downtime.

Your treatment depends on the cause of your palpitations and whether you have an underlying problem like an arrhythmia. For example, for atrial fibrillation, you may need a procedure to restore normal heart rate followed by heart medication.

If you have mild, occasional heart palpitations but have a healthy heart and aren't at risk for heart disease or heart attack, Dr. Meyer may simply recommend regular monitoring of your condition.

Whether you need treatment or not, it's important to take some steps to achieve good heart health. Dr. Meyer can help you manage problems like hypertension and high cholesterol while improving your whole-body wellness. He uses an integrative approach, which includes alternative options like yoga and stress reduction.

For compassionate cardiovascular care, call Madison Avenue Cardiovascular or click the online appointment maker now.