For no apparent reason, one may feel a short burst of rapid heartbeats. At times one may feel that the heart skipped a beat or two, or there may be awareness of having a very slow heartbeat. People vary a lot in their ability to feel their heartbeat. Some people are entirely unaware of it, even if it's very irregular. Your doctor must determine when palpitations are a threat to your health and when to treat a problem.
Some palpitations are normal after exercise, emotional upsets, or stress.
Some may be caused by nicotine, coffee, or other drugs. The answers to the doctor's questions help to determine if the palpitations are dangerous. They can also help the doctor to determine if the unusual heartbeats are starting in the upper or lower chambers of your heart. If the palpitations occur while you are in your doctor's office, an immediate electrocardiogram can make the diagnosis. Unfortunately, most palpitations occur when a doctor is not around.