heart beat missing - #21074
I am feeling really anxious about something that's been happening to me, and I hope someone can shed light on it. A while ago, I started noticing that my heart beat missing for a second or two, and it totally freaked me out! Like, one moment, I feel totally fine, and the next, it's as if my heart just stops for a split second... which, let me tell you, is super scary! I’ve had a few episodes where I get this weird fluttering sensation and then nothing, just this heart beat missing feeling for a brief moment... I went to a doctor who said it could be something harmless like PVCs (premature ventricular contractions), but I can’t shake off the feeling. Why would my heart beat missing like that? I’ve done some tests, and, apart from some mild anxiety, everything seemed normal, yet it keeps happening, and I’m wondering if anyone else has felt their heart beat missing. Is this common? Like, what’s the deal? Should I be worried or just like chill out and breathe? I really want to understand if this heart beat missing thing is something I should get checked again or just ignore.
100% Anonymously
No sign-up needed.

Doctors' responses
When it feels like your heart beat is missing, it can be alarming, but it’s a fairly common phenomenon known as premature beats. What you might be experiencing are PVCs, or premature ventricular contractions, where your heart has an early heartbeat that creates a pause, making it feel like a skipped beat. Though PVCs are often benign, anxiety and stress can sometimes intensify them, making you more aware of them. Since you’ve already seen a doctor and undergone testing, and everything appeared normal, that’s reassuring. Still, if these episodes are causing significant anxiety or if you notice other symptoms like dizziness, palpitations that are frequent or sustained, chest pain, or shortness of breath, it would be wise to follow up with your healthcare provider. It’s important not to ignore sudden or worsening symptoms, as they could require immediate attention. For now, monitoring your lifestyle factors may help. Try reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake, manage stress with techniques like deep breathing or meditation, and ensure you’re getting adequate sleep. Hydration and regular physical activity can also have a positive impact on heart rhythm. If these lifestyle changes don’t ease your symptoms and you’re still concerned, a cardiologist can offer further assessment, potentially with a Holter monitor, to capture these events as they occur over 24-48 hours. That would give more specific insights into the patterns or triggers behind these skipped beats. Ultimately, while it seems like this could be fairly harmless, keeping track of any changes and communicating with your doctor about them will help in managing your peace of mind and health.
100% Anonymously
Get expert answers anytime, completely confidential. No sign-up needed.
About our doctors
Only qualified doctors who have confirmed the availability of medical education and other certificates of medical practice consult on our service. You can check the qualification confirmation in the doctor's profile.