Skipping a beat - the surprise of palpitations
Palpitations are worrisome but usually aren't dangerous.
Most of us are blissfully unaware of the heart's steady thump as it contracts and relaxes nearly 100,000 times a day. Sometimes, though, you may notice that your heart has unexpectedly started to race or pound, or feels like it has skipped a beat. These sensations are called palpitations (pal-pih-TAY-shunz). For most people, palpitations are a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence. Others have dozens a day, some so strong that they feel like a heart attack.
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