Arrhythmia Doctor in St. Louis - St. Louis Arrhythmia Specialists

If you feel like your heart is skipping a beat or racing too fast, these are classic signs of an arrhythmia (commonly known as heart palpitations). While these episodes are often temporary and not terribly dangerous, if you have persistent problems, they could be signaling something more serious.

If this is the case, a trip to see one of our arrhythmia specialists at St. Louis Heart and Vascular is in order. Equipped with the latest diagnostic tools and the best St. Louis arrhythmia doctors.

If you’re having heart palpitations, call one of our seven locations in the St. Louis area. Our team can get to the bottom of your problem and start your treatment to schedule an appointment.

Arrhythmia Treatment Q&A

What is an arrhythmia?

If you’ve ever been extremely excited or nervous, you may have felt like your heart was pounding crazily, and you could even feel it in your neck and throat, as well as your chest. These episodes are typically fueled by adrenaline and last just seconds.

Symptoms of arrhythmia include:

A racing heartbeat
A slow heartbeat
A “fluttering” in your chest
shortness of breath
dizziness
lightheadedness
fainting or near fainting
fatigue

If you’re experiencing heart palpitations that last longer than a few seconds or you have frequent episodes, it’s important to get them checked out to rule out a problem with your heart. Contact our St. Louis arrhythmia doctors for adequate treatment if you are encountering heart palpitations.

What causes an arrhythmia?

More often than not, arrhythmias don’t pose a serious health risk, even though they feel like something is terribly wrong. The most common causes of heart palpitations include:

Panic attacks caused by anxiety, fear, or stress
Exercise
Caffeine
Nicotine, alcohol, and drugs
Hormonal changes, such as menopause

While arrhythmias tied to these conditions may not necessarily pose a health risk, your fluttering heart could also be a sign of abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmia, which is why getting checked out at St. Louis Heart & Vascular by our arrhythmia specialists is a good idea.

How are arrhythmias diagnosed?

Our arrhythmia specialists at St. Louis Heart & Vascular are equipped with the latest diagnostic tools. They can record your heart rhythms with an in-office electrocardiogram (EKG), as well as portable Holter monitors that record the activity of your heart over a period of 24-48 hours as you go about your daily routine.

These readings give your doctor an idea of how your heart rhythms throughout your day and help your arrhythmia doctor spot potential problems that may not show up during your visit.

How are arrhythmias treated?

There is no blanket answer to this question since it depends upon what’s causing your heart palpitations. If caffeine seems to be the culprit, you’ll need to cut back. If anxiety is at the root of your heart palpitations, your cardiologist and arrhythmia specialist will counsel you on managing your anxiety attacks.

If your arrhythmia doctor spots a functional issue, they can get you started on an appropriate treatment plan to get your heart back on track and in a regular rhythm.

If you’re experiencing frequent heart palpitations, contact one of the locations at St. Louis Heart and Vascular and make an appointment with our St. Louis arrhythmia specialists.