Wellness

• What your symptoms might be telling you:  Learn how AFib, SVT, and PVCs each feel different, described in the real words patients use, straight from UC Health cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. James Mann.
• When to act (and how urgently):  Discover which triggers and symptom patterns warrant a same-week appointment — and which signs mean you should seek care right now.
• How UC Health makes it easy to get seen:  Find out why Cincinnati patients trust UC Health’s electrophysiology team, and how to self-schedule — with priority AFib appointments available now.

Find real answers and a path forward by scheduling an appointment with a UC Health's electrophysiology specialist. Schedule online or call 513-475-8521.

What Are Heart Palpitations?

Heart palpitations are your awareness of your heartbeat — a feeling that it's racing, fluttering, skipping, pounding, or beating irregularly. They can happen at rest, during exercise, after eating, when lying down, or seemingly out of nowhere.

When those sensations follow a pattern or become disruptive, they may be a sign of a cardiac arrhythmia — an umbrella term for any irregularity in your heartbeat. Some arrhythmias fall into a broader category known as cardiac rhythm disorders, which range from mild and manageable to urgent. Diagnosing and treating these disorders is what a cardiac electrophysiologist does — the name for a cardiologist with advanced training in the heart's electrical system, which is what powers heartbeats.

Most people explain their symptoms by describing how they feel . A few common ways people search for this feeling online include:

•        "heart fluttering" or "heart skipping a beat"

•        "heart racing for no reason"

•        "heart pounding in chest at night"

•        "heart beating fast then slow"

•        "why does my heart feel weird"

•        "heart palpitations when lying down"

Here's what those sensations might mean — and what to do next.

When Heart Palpitations Are More Than a Feeling

Not all heart palpitations are the same. In fact, the sensation you feel can be a clue to what's happening inside your heart. James Mann, MD, a cardiac electrophysiology specialist at UC Health, describes three of the most common rhythm disorders — and the way patients often describe what they feel.

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

Core sensation: Irregular, chaotic, fluttering

AFib is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting more than 6 million Americans. In AFib, the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat chaotically instead of in a steady rhythm. The result? A feeling of total unpredictability in your chest.

Dr. Mann's patients describe AFib like this:

“A fish flopping around in my chest.”

“Butterflies trapped in my chest.”

People with AFib are much more likely to have a stroke, so it’s very important that they get treatment quickly. If your heart palpitations feel irregular or all over the place, don’t ignore it. Aim to be seen within days, not your next available appointment months from now.

If you're experiencing symptoms right now, chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness alongside an irregular heartbeat, call 911.

UC Health offers priority AFib appointments so you can get in quicker.  Not in the Cincinnati area? This is still a symptom worth bringing to your primary care physician or cardiologist promptly — ask for a referral to a cardiac electrophysiologist.

Related: Atrial flutter is a different but closely related arrhythmia — causing similar sensations but with a more regular rapid rhythm. Some people can have both conditions, which can be treated by the same EP specialists.

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

Core sensation: Sudden, rapid, sustained racing

SVT is an episode of rapid heartbeat that starts suddenly, often with little warning, and can last minutes to hours. The heart races at 150–250 beats per minute. People often search for “heart racing out of nowhere” or “heart beating fast during exercise” — SVT is frequently the culprit.

Dr. Mann's patients describe SVT like this:

“Like my heart is sprinting.”

“A hummingbird beating in my chest.”

If episodes happen more than once, get more frequent, or affect your daily life, you don’t have to accept it. SVT is highly treatable — schedule an appointment soon, and ask about same-week availability.

If an SVT episode won't stop, is accompanied by chest pain or fainting, or lasts more than 30 minutes — go to the ER.

Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)

Core sensation: Extra beat, pause, thump, drop

PVCs are extra heartbeats that start in the lower chambers of the heart. They disrupt the normal rhythm with a premature beat followed by a pause — and many people notice that pause more than the beat itself. People often search for “heart skipping a beat” or “heart dropping feeling.”

Dr. Mann's patients describe it like this:

“Like my heart drops into my stomach.”

“A hiccup in my chest.”

“Like missing a stair when you’re walking.”

If you're noticing the sensation multiple times an hour, most days — or consistently during or after exercise — schedule an evaluation. Most PVCs are benign, but how often and when they happen are exactly what a specialist needs to know. A simple workup can give you a clear answer and real peace of mind.

If PVCs are accompanied by chest pain, fainting, or a racing heartbeat that won't stop — go to the ER.

Do Your Symptoms Have a Pattern? Notice These Triggers

One of the most helpful things you can do before seeing a doctor is notice when your heart palpitations occur. Many patients search for heart-related symptoms that happen during specific moments in their day — and there's good reason for that. Triggers are real clues.

• Caffeine and stimulants: "Heart palpitations after coffee" is one of the most common searches on this topic. Caffeine, energy drinks, and some medications can cause arrhythmias in some people.
• Alcohol: "Holiday heart syndrome" is a real thing — even moderate alcohol intake can trigger AFib episodes. If your heart races or flutters after drinking, that pattern matters.
• Exercise: Heart palpitations during or after physical activity can be normal — or a warning sign. SVT, in particular, is often triggered by exertion.
• Lying down or at night: "Heart palpitations when lying down" and "heart racing at night" are extremely common searches. You’re more likely to notice something strange when you’re in a different position, in rest and digest mode, and have less distractions.
• Stress and anxiety: "Are my heart palpitations anxiety or a heart problem?" This is one of the most-searched questions — and it's a fair one. Anxiety and arrhythmias can feel very similar. An electrophysiologist can help tell the difference between the two.
• After eating: Large meals and certain foods can trigger palpatations. This is more common than many people realize.

When Should You See a Doctor About Heart Palpitations?

If you're wondering whether you should get checked, that wondering is probably worth acting on. But certain symptoms make it more urgent.

Seek immediate attention or call 911 if your palpitations are accompanied by:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
• Sudden weakness or difficulty speaking (possible stroke symptoms)

Schedule an appointment if you're experiencing:

• Palpitations that are new, frequent, or getting worse
• Episodes that last more than a few minutes
• A racing heart that starts and stops suddenly
• A family history of heart rhythm disorders or sudden cardiac death
• Palpitations plus fatigue, even without other alarming symptoms
• Any pattern that's affecting your quality of life or causing anxiety

Why UC Health for Cardiac Rhythm Care in Cincinnati

When your heart sends you a signal, where you go for answers matters. At UC Health, we don’t just have cardiologists. We have cardiologists who have trained in specific heart disorders—So you know you’re getting a true expert. Working together on one team, our specialists also bring some of the latest tech to your care.

• Electrophysiology Excellence: Our EP physicians treat AFib, SVT, PVCs, deadly arrhythmias, and beyond. AFib patients get priority access with shorter wait times, and anyone can self-refer — no referral needed.
• Cutting-Edge Cardiac Surgery: Robotic-assisted procedures, a hybrid OR that includes imaging equipment, and surgeons known for taking on the most complex cases in the region.
• Structural Heart Expertise: Leaders in valve disease, PFO closure, and advanced minimally invasive therapies—think of this as “faulty parts” conditions.
• Prevention & General Cardiology: Preventing disease, controlling cholesterol with a pharmacist, and getting your risk score.
• The Academic Difference: Cardiologists, neurologists, radiologists and more working together — treating the whole patient, not just one symptom.
• Trusted Experts. Advanced Technology: Known throughout Cincinnati for innovation, cutting-edge tools, and physicians that patients trust with their hearts.
  

Know the Signs. Act Now.

If something feels off with your heart — don’t wait. UC Health’s electrophysiology team is ready to see you, evaluate your symptoms, and give you the answers and treatment you need.  Schedule online or call 513-475-8521.

AFib patients: Ask about our priority access pathway — faster appointments available now.