Premature Heartbeats

Premature beats are contractions of the heart that occur ahead of time within the normal heart rhythm, giving the sensation of a skip or a pause in the chest. They usually originate in the upper or lower chambers of the heart and, in many people, do not stem from a serious cause.

Common symptoms: a sensation of palpitation, of a "flip" in the chest, a beat that seems to skip, or a brief thump; they often go unnoticed.

Possible factors: stress, lack of sleep, consumption of caffeine or stimulants and, in other cases, heart conditions that should be studied.

Which specialist evaluates it? The cardiologist, and in children the pediatric cardiologist, are the ones who study these beats; the general practitioner can guide an initial evaluation. If the palpitations are frequent, are accompanied by dizziness or shortness of breath, it is worth consulting in time.