Sudden Racing Heart and Skipped Beats: Normal or Something Dangerous?

[Matt]

I’m honestly at a loss right now. For the past several years, I’ve been dealing with these random heart episodes that hit me out of the blue. It feels like a sudden adrenaline rush — my heart takes off racing, skipping beats or fluttering like crazy. Sometimes it feels like it’s pounding out of my chest. It usually lasts anywhere from a few seconds to half a minute, and I have to take a deep breath or bear down to get it to stop.

It’s not consistent — maybe 7 or 8 times since 2016 — but recently it's been stressing me out more and more. A couple of times, it even happened when I bent over or changed positions, like something triggered it with my breathing or movement.

I had WPW syndrome and went through an ablation a while ago. Now, every time I try to talk about these symptoms, my EP basically says it’s nothing to worry about — that the old pathway is blocked and what I’m feeling is likely anxiety. He says my heart looks structurally healthy, and unless there’s damage, VT or NSVT shouldn’t be a concern. He mentioned I could get a second opinion, but I’ve been searching for weeks and can’t find anyone in-network who’s close enough to see.

I’ve had multiple EKGs, echocardiograms, Holters — and another one is scheduled — but nothing is showing up. I even asked for a loop recorder to track things long-term, but he didn’t think it was necessary.

I’m trying to trust him, but every time this happens, I panic that it’ll spiral into something serious and I won’t make it to the ER in time. I’m exhausted, anxious all the time, and I just don’t know what else to do. I want peace of mind, but I’m stuck between fear and frustration.

 

[Dr_Jennifer]

Hi, Matt!
First of all, I want to say I completely understand how distressing these symptoms can be — especially when they feel sudden and unpredictable. You're doing the right thing by seeking clarity and advocating for your health.

Given your history of WPW and the ablation procedure, some of the sensations you're experiencing could very well be related to residual electrical activity or changes in conduction patterns post-ablation. It’s not uncommon to still feel occasional palpitations or extra beats (known as PACs or PVCs) even when the original arrhythmia circuit has been successfully ablated.

From what you’ve described — short bursts of rapid heartbeat, possibly triggered by movement or positional changes, lasting less than 30 seconds — this may not represent sustained or dangerous arrhythmias like ventricular tachycardia. The fact that your heart structure is normal, and you've had normal echocardiograms and EKGs, makes it less likely that this is life-threatening.

SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) can sometimes recur or feel like it’s trying to "fire" again, even after an ablation. Your electrophysiologist may be correct that what you’re feeling is benign, but that doesn’t mean your experience isn’t real or impactful. Anxiety and heightened awareness can absolutely amplify these sensations — but they’re not imagined.

That said, if your symptoms are frequent, disruptive, or causing significant anxiety, a longer-term monitor (like a 30-day event monitor or an implantable loop recorder) is a valid request — especially since short-term Holters might miss intermittent events. It might also give you peace of mind.

If access to a second opinion is limited due to insurance, consider looking into university medical centers or teaching hospitals, which sometimes offer more flexibility for specialty care or can refer you to patient-assistance programs. Additionally, if anxiety is playing a significant role, it might help to work alongside a mental health provider who understands health-related anxiety — this doesn’t mean your symptoms aren’t cardiac, it just means you're addressing the full picture.

Bottom line: you're not alone in this, and what you're feeling deserves attention. Keep advocating for yourself — and don’t hesitate to keep asking questions until you feel confident in the answers.

Stay well and take it one step at a time,
— Dr_jennifer.

 

[Kilian]

Hey,Matt. I’ve been through something very similar. I had an ablation for SVT a few years ago, and even though it helped, I still get these random flutters and racing episodes. They come out of nowhere, especially when I’m stressed or lying down.

My doc also told me my heart is structurally fine, and that it’s probably harmless — but that didn’t stop the fear. What helped me most was wearing an event monitor for a month. It finally caught something and gave me peace of mind. Keep pushing for answers if it’s affecting your life. You’re not crazy — you’re being cautious, and that’s okay.

 

[Dony]

You’re definitely not alone. I’ve had random palpitations for years after an ablation for WPW. They feel scary, like my heart is skipping or pounding hard, but they usually pass in a few seconds. I was told it’s just ectopic beats and anxiety making it worse.

I ended up working with both a cardiologist and a therapist — the combo really helped. The heart stuff was real, but my fear of it made it ten times worse. It’s frustrating, but it does get better with the right support.

 

[Matt]

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful replies — it really means a lot. Just knowing I'm not alone and hearing your experiences helps ease some of the fear. I’ll definitely keep advocating for myself and look into some of the suggestions you shared. Appreciate you taking the time to respond.