Palpitations

‘Palpitation’ is a lay term usually used by patients when they are aware of their heart beat. Most patients are eventually found to have either a cardiac arrhythmia or anxiety. The pattern of presentation, accompanying features and risk factors determine which further investigations are needed in order to reach a diagnosis. Obtaining a 12-lead echocardiogram (ECG) at the onset of symptoms is the gold standard in diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias. The resting 12-lead ECG offers valuable information regarding the presence of pre-existing conditions such as pre-excitation and ischaemic heart disease. Event recorders used over a 2-week period offer an effective way to capture cardiac arrhythmias. Holter monitors are also used in patients who have frequent symptoms. With the advent of new transcatheter cardiac ablation techniques and depending on the rhythm disturbance, management has become more successful.