PanicStation.org
UK USA
uk Health & medical scares

What to do if…
you notice a new irregular heartbeat or skipped beats and feel unsettled

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

If your heartbeat feels irregular and does not settle, or it comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint or fainting, call 999 or go to A&E now. If those emergency symptoms are not happening but this is new, keeps coming back, or you still feel unwell, contact NHS 111 where available, your GP surgery, or your local urgent-care route for advice today.

Do not do these things

  • Do not drive yourself to get help if you feel faint, dizzy, lightheaded, unsteady, breathless, or have chest pain.
  • Do not do vigorous exercise to test whether your heart is safe.
  • Do not take extra doses of prescribed medicine, or someone else’s medicine, to calm your heart.
  • Do not use energy drinks, lots of caffeine, nicotine, recreational stimulants, or binge alcohol to cope.
  • Try not to re-check your pulse repeatedly in a way that escalates panic; take one brief note, then follow the steps below.

What to do now

  1. Sit upright and pause for 2–3 minutes. Keep your feet on the floor and slow your breathing enough to make the next decision safely.
  2. Call 999 or go to A&E now if the palpitations do not go away, or if they come with any of these:
    • chest pain, pressure, or tightness
    • shortness of breath
    • dizziness or lightheadedness
    • feeling faint, fainting, or collapse
  3. If you need A&E, do not drive. Ask someone else to take you or call 999 for an ambulance.
  4. If those emergency symptoms happened but have now stopped, ask your GP surgery for an urgent appointment, call 111 where available, or use your local urgent-care route for advice on what to do next.
  5. If there are no emergency symptoms but this is new, keeps coming back, lasts more than a few minutes, or you feel not right, contact NHS 111 where available, your GP surgery, or your local urgent-care route today. Say clearly:
    • this is a new irregular heartbeat or skipped-beat feeling
    • whether it is happening now or has stopped
    • whether you have chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating, nausea, or fainting
    • whether you have a heart condition, a family history of heart problems, thyroid problems, pregnancy, recent fever or illness, or recent medicine changes
  6. Make a quick episode log in your phone notes. Write the start time, how long it lasted, what it felt like, what you were doing when it started, and any possible triggers such as caffeine, energy drinks, alcohol, nicotine, poor sleep, dehydration, recent illness, decongestants, or new supplements.
  7. If you check your pulse, keep it gentle and brief. Use your wrist if you can. If you touch your neck, use light pressure on one side only. Stop checking if it makes you feel worse.
  8. While you wait for advice, reduce immediate risk: do not drive, ask someone to stay nearby or be reachable, avoid stimulants and alcohol for now, and sip water if you may be dehydrated unless you have been told to restrict fluids.
  9. If a wearable device captured the episode, save the recording if it is easy to do. Do not delay urgent help to capture a reading.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether this is anxiety, a heart rhythm problem, or something else.
  • You do not need to search for diagnoses, buy supplements, or make diet changes today.
  • You do not need to stop prescribed medicine unless a clinician tells you to, but note any recent changes so you can mention them.
  • Longer-term monitoring, tests, and follow-up decisions can wait until you have used the right urgent route for today.

Important reassurance

Palpitations can feel intense and frightening, and they are often not caused by something dangerous. The safest first step is not to guess: check for emergency symptoms, avoid driving if you feel unwell, and use urgent medical advice if this is new, persistent, worsening, or worrying you.

Scope note

These are first steps only, to help you stay safe and get the right level of help. Later decisions, including whether you need an ECG, monitoring, medication review, or specialist assessment, may need a clinician.

Important note

This guide is general information, not medical or professional advice, and not a diagnosis. If you feel seriously unwell, symptoms are worsening, or you are unsure what level of help you need, use 999 or your local urgent medical service.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

Support us