What should I do now?
Call 911
Call 911 for new or unexplained chest pressure that persists or returns, severe trouble breathing, collapse without normal recovery, or sudden face/arm weakness or trouble speaking. Do not drive yourself.
Contact your care team
Contact your care team for new, longer, or more frequent episodes, or reduced activity.
Keep your care plan
Record timing, duration, and symptoms when safe; save any available EKG recording.
SECTION 3
When should I seek medical help?
Many palpitations are harmless, but the symptoms that occur with them help determine how urgently you need care.
Call 911 for warning signs
Seek emergency care if palpitations occur with:
- Chest pain, pressure, or discomfort.
- Fainting or loss of consciousness.
- Severe shortness of breath.
- Severe dizziness or feeling that you may pass out.
Do not drive yourself or delay care while trying to record your rhythm on a watch.
When should I contact my doctor?
Arrange an evaluation if your palpitations are new, keep returning, become more frequent, or last longer than before. This is especially important if you have known heart disease.
If your heart remains unusually fast at rest and the episode is not settling, seek prompt medical advice. Warning signs listed above require emergency care.
What should I record?
If you feel well enough, note:
- When the episode started and how long it lasted.
- Whether it began and stopped suddenly.
- Whether the pulse felt regular or uneven.
- What you were doing when it started.
- Any associated symptoms.
- Your heart rate or a watch EKG recording, if available.
Bring this information to your appointment. It can help your doctor connect your symptoms with a heart rhythm. Feeling better between episodes does not tell us what rhythm occurred during them.
Updated October 2026. Educational information; your own care plan may differ. Medical illustrations are simplified examples for teaching.