What should you know about heart failure palpitations?

Palpitations may reflect a fast rhythm, extra beats or simply a stronger awareness of the heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation is one rhythm problem that can occur with heart disease and may feel irregular. Heart failure itself can also make exertion feel harder, but palpitations do not by themselves establish the cause.

Assessment may include pulse and blood pressure checks, an ECG, blood tests and sometimes a wearable monitor that records rhythm during everyday activities. Tell the clinician how long episodes last, whether they start suddenly, and whether dizziness, chest discomfort or breathlessness accompanies them.

Sit down during an episode and avoid strenuous activity until you feel steady. Record the time, trigger, duration and whether the rhythm seems regular or uneven. Mention caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, illness and medicine changes, as these details can help the assessment.

Continue prescribed treatment unless your clinician advises otherwise. A chronic disease review can bring together symptoms, rhythm findings, blood pressure and heart-failure medicines, allowing the plan to be adjusted safely.

Seek emergency help for palpitations with chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, collapse, marked weakness or confusion. Get prompt medical advice if episodes are new, frequent, prolonged, clearly irregular, or accompanied by worsening cough, fatigue or ankle swelling.

Could this be an abnormal rhythm? Do I need an ECG or longer monitoring? Which symptoms should trigger emergency help? Could any medicine, illness or stimulant be contributing? How should I record episodes?