“Can you feel an arrhythmia?”

Yes, palpitations and shortness of breath can be signs as well as dizzy episodes if they persist.

Some people may feel arrhythmia, however, some may not. There are different types of arrhythmia including slow or fast, regular or irregular, originating from the upper vs. lower chamber of the heart. Some arrhythmia could be associated with lightheadedness, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, passing out or fainting. If you have any concerns or suspicion of having an arrhythmia, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may consider doing an electrocardiogram and ordering a hart monitor (Holter, ZioPatch, or an event recorder) to monitor your heart rhythm for extended time like days, weeks, or months. Your doctor can also discuss with you potential causes of arrhythmia and how to minimize the risk (ex., decreasing intake of cardiac stimulants such as caffeine, etc.), checking your thyroid hormones and electrolytes in a blood sample, reviewing your medications including over-the-counter medications, etc.

Yes. There are many arrhythmias that you can feel. The most common or isolated premature heartbeats caused by extra electrical activity either in the top chambers (the atria) or from premature beats from the lower muscular chambers called ventricular premature beats. In these cases you do not feel the premature baby but you feel the stronger heartbeat that occurs after a pause caused by the premature beat. There are other arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation that make your heart go fast and irregular and most people will feel is quite distinctly. Other fast heart rhythms may give symptoms of dizziness or palpitations.

Sometimes you can feel am abnormal heart beat. Most often the heart will seem like it’s racing. A slow heart rate may feel like dizziness or fatigue. Any of these symptoms should be checked by a physician.

Usually you can, as irregular or fast palpitations. But if you have had it for a long time and it's not severe, you can get so accustomed to it that you don't notice.

Best wishes,

Jonathan