Palpitations Assessment in Essex & London | Dr Cook

What are palpitations?

Palpitations are an awareness of your heartbeat. While some people describe a racing heart, others may feel a pounding, fluttering, or skipped heartbeats. These episodes can come on suddenly, last for a few seconds or minutes, or occur intermittently over longer periods.

Recognising Your Heart Rhythm Symptoms

A helpful way to assess your palpitations is to reflect on when they occur and how they affect your daily life. You might ask yourself:

  • Do they happen at rest or during physical activity?

  • Do your heart palpitations wake you from sleep?

  • Are they associated with dizziness, breathlessness, chest discomfort, or unusual fatigue?

  • Have family members noticed you seem unwell or unsettled during an episode?

When to Seek a Cardiology Consultation

While many palpitations are harmless—particularly when they are brief or infrequent—they can sometimes indicate an underlying heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia). Because certain heart rhythms require specialist management, new, persistent, or troubling palpitations are always worth a professional medical review.

At my clinics in Essex and London, I provide expert cardiac assessment and rapid diagnostic monitoring to determine the cause of your symptoms, providing the reassurance or treatment plan you need.

What causes palpitations?

While palpitations are a common awareness of your heartbeat, understanding the underlying cause is essential. At my clinics I help patients identify whether their symptoms are related to a simple lifestyle factor or a more significant heart rhythm disturbance.

Heart Rhythm Disturbances & Arrhythmias

The most frequent cause of palpitations is a change in the heart's electrical rhythm. These can range from harmless "extra beats" to more sustained conditions that require specialist management:

  • Ectopic Beats: The sensation of a "skipped" or "extra" heartbeat.

  • Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): A common irregular and often fast heart rhythm.

  • Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT): Sudden episodes of a very rapid heartbeat.

  • Heart Valve Disease: Conditions like Aortic Stenosis or Mitral Regurgitation can increase the likelihood of rhythm issues.

Common Triggers for Palpitations

Not all palpitations are caused by a primary heart problem. External factors and lifestyle triggers can often cause the heart to race or flutter, including:

  • Lifestyle Factors: High caffeine intake, alcohol, dehydration, or lack of sleep.

  • Emotional Stress: Anxiety and high-stress levels frequently present as chest fluttering.

  • Medical Triggers: Hormonal changes, viral infections, or certain over-the-counter medications.

When is Specialist Assessment Necessary?

Even if you have previously had a "normal" heart, palpitations that become more frequent, severe, or are associated with dizziness and breathlessness deserve a careful assessment.

If you have a known heart condition, such as coronary artery disease, new palpitations may represent a change in your cardiac health. Because symptoms feel different for everyone, a specialist cardiology consultation is the most reliable way to identify the cause and provide the reassurance or treatment you need.

How are palpitations assessed?

Your journey to a clear diagnosis begins with a detailed clinical consultation. We will discuss exactly what your palpitations feel like—whether it is a racing, fluttering, or skipping sensation—how often they occur, and whether you experience associated symptoms like dizziness, breathlessness, or chest pain.

Identifying potential triggers and reviewing your medical history is the first step toward a personalised heart care plan at my clinics in Essex and London.

Specialist Heart Rhythm Investigations

Following a clinical examination, we will agree on an appropriate investigation plan. Because heart palpitations are often intermittent, we use advanced technology to capture your heart rhythm during your everyday life:

  • 12-Lead ECG (Electrocardiogram): A baseline test to assess your heart’s electrical activity.

  • 24-Hour Heart Rhythm Monitoring: Using a portable monitor (often called a Holter Monitor) for 24 hours or longer to "catch" irregular rhythms as they happen.

  • Echocardiogram (Heart Ultrasound): A specialist scan to evaluate your heart structure and valve function, ensuring no underlying physical issues are triggering the rhythm change.

  • Cardiac Blood Tests: To rule out other causes such as thyroid issues or electrolyte imbalances.

Advanced Cardiac Assessment

If further clarity is needed to understand your arrhythmia or heart health, I provide access to world-class imaging and monitoring technology. These tests are chosen carefully based on your symptoms and individual risk profile.

A Personalised Management Plan

By combining your clinical history with advanced diagnostic test results, I develop a personalised management plan. Whether this involves simple reassurance, lifestyle guidance, or specialist medication, my goal is to ensure you feel supported and confident in your heart health at every stage of your care.


Get in Touch

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Please contact my medical secretary, who will be happy to assist you with scheduling, billing, or clinical queries.

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