That sudden flutter, pounding, or skipped beat in your chest can be unsettling, even when nothing is wrong. The good news is that heart palpitations are often harmless and temporary. Still, if they persist, you may be wondering how to find a doctor for heart palpitations and who to book.
For milder, occasional palpitations, primary care or urgent care can be a reasonable place to start. A cardiologist (a medical doctor who specializes in the heart and blood vessels) may be the better fit, especially if your symptoms are recurring, worsening, or sudden.
Key takeaways
- Palpitations are often triggered by stress, caffeine, or exercise, and frequently resolve on their own.
- See a doctor if palpitations are new, suddenly more frequent, or if you have heart disease or risk factors.
- Primary care is often a reasonable first step for non-emergency symptoms.
- Urgent care is an option for a faster, same-day evaluation when symptoms feel immediate but aren’t a clear emergency.
- A cardiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the heart and can provide a thorough evaluation of your palpitations.
- Seek emergency care if palpitations come with chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath.
What kind of doctor should you see for heart palpitations?
Seeing a primary care doctor is often a reasonable first step for non-emergency symptoms, but a cardiologist would be the next step for worsening or recurrent heart palpitations. A cardiologist focuses on the heart and heart rhythm, and can provide a thorough evaluation to determine the cause.
For a same-day visit for a single, non-emergency episode, going to urgent care may be an option.
You can browse and compare cardiologists, primary care doctors, or urgent care near you to see who fits your needs.
Should you start with primary care, urgent care, or a cardiologist for heart palpitations?
Start with whichever appropriate provider you can see the soonest for palpitations.
Primary care is a strong starting point for intermittent palpitations without emergency symptoms. Your provider knows your history and can order initial testing or refer you to a specialist.
Urgent care may be a good choice for a quick evaluation, particularly if palpitations are new, more frequent, or bothering you right now.
Cardiology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the heart. A cardiologist may be the right fit for palpitations that are persistent or recurrent, if you have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease, or if they’re developing into an arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat). Not every flutter or skipped beat needs a specialist, though.
| Provider | May be a good fit when |
| Primary care | Palpitations are occasional, mild, and you have no emergency symptoms |
| Urgent care | You want a fast, same-day check for new or more frequent palpitations that aren’t an emergency |
| Cardiologist | Palpitations are recurring, worsening, tied to known heart disease or risk factors, or developing into an arrhythmia |
When should you see a doctor for heart palpitations?
See your provider if you’ve never had palpitations before, if there’s a sudden increase or change in them, or if you have heart disease or are at risk of developing heart disease.
If your palpitations are rare, brief, and tied to something obvious like caffeine or stress, it may be reasonable to monitor them for now. When in doubt, booking a visit can give you peace of mind.
What heart palpitation symptoms mean you should get checked sooner?
Some symptoms are worth getting checked sooner. Consider booking a visit promptly if you notice:
- Palpitations that are frequent or worsening
- A sudden change in your usual symptoms
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Feeling like you might pass out
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Palpitations along with known heart disease or risk factors
If any of these apply, you can compare real-time availability and book an appointment with a cardiologist, primary care doctor, or urgent care provider who has an opening soon.
When are heart palpitations an emergency?
Heart palpitations are an emergency when they are accompanied by more serious symptoms, like chest pain, fainting, loss of consciousness, or severe shortness of breath. In those cases, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room rather than wait for an appointment.
Difficulty breathing or chest pain with arrhythmia symptoms should prompt immediate emergency care.
What causes heart palpitations?
Heart palpitations have many causes, and most aren’t dangerous. Common triggers include:
- Stress or anxiety
- Exercise
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Stimulants or certain medications
- An overactive thyroid
- Sometimes an arrhythmia or another heart condition
Because so many triggers are temporary, palpitations often pass on their own.
What happens at an appointment for heart palpitations?
At your visit, a clinician will likely ask when your palpitations happen, how long they last, whether anything seems to trigger them, what medications or stimulants you use, and whether you’ve had symptoms, such as dizziness, chest pain, or fainting.
Evaluation often includes an ECG/EKG, a quick test that records your heart’s rhythm. If your palpitations aren’t captured during a standard exam, a Holter monitor or event recorder (wearable devices that track your heartbeat over time) may be used.
The goal is to figure out whether your palpitations are harmless, trigger-related, or a heart rhythm condition that requires treatment.
How do you find the right doctor for heart palpitations?
Finding the right provider gets easier when you answer a few quick questions:
- Are the palpitations occasional, or do they keep happening?
- Do you have chest pain, fainting, or shortness of breath?
- Do you have any known heart disease or major risk factors?
- Do you want the soonest available visit?
- Would you rather start with primary care, urgent care, or a cardiologist?
- Do you want an in-person or virtual visit?
- Does the provider take your insurance?
On Zocdoc, you can filter by your insurance, read verified patient reviews, see real-time availability, and book online. Compare cardiologists, primary care doctors, and urgent care providers to find the right match for your needs.
Conclusion
Heart palpitations are often harmless, but frequent, worsening, or more symptomatic palpitations should be checked out. Primary care or urgent care can be a reasonable place to start for milder cases, while cardiology is for recurring, worsening palpitations that may be linked to heart disease. If you’re ready, you can find and book a doctor on Zocdoc whenever it works for you.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of doctor should I see for heart palpitations? Primary care is often a reasonable first step for non-emergency symptoms. Urgent care can work for a quick, same-day evaluation. However, if your palpitations are recurring, worsening, tied to known heart disease or risk factors, or developing into an arrhythmia, see a cardiologist for further evaluation.
When should I worry about heart palpitations?
Consider getting checked if palpitations are new, suddenly more frequent, worse, or accompanied by symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort. Seek emergency care if they occur with chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath.
Can heart palpitations go away on their own?
Yes, palpitations often pass on their own, especially when tied to temporary triggers like stress, caffeine, or exercise. If your palpitations keep returning or change, it’s worth seeing a doctor.
What symptoms with heart palpitations mean I should get checked right away?
Get checked sooner if you have dizziness, feeling faint, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or palpitations alongside known heart disease. Chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath warrant emergency care.
The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on as medical advice. It is not intended as, and Zocdoc does not provide, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Zocdoc does not recommend any specific provider. Find one you’ll love on Zocdoc today.