Questions posted in the Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: "fluttering" heartbeat.

Forum: The Heart Forum
Topic: Arrhythmia


My husband is driving me crazy. He will not go to a doctor. He had one of his "episodes" today. It started in the late morning and it's still going on now, at 10:35 p.m. He's forty years old and this has been happening since he was seventeen. Basically, his heart will suddenly start beating irregularly. He says his heart feels sluggish and "fluttery". He can't walk around because he gets lightheaded (sometimes, not today) and because it throws his heart more out of whack. Two times we have visited an emergency room only to have his heart "kick in" once we got there. He says that a shot of adrenalin usually sets it straight. He runs 3.5 miles five times per week and it very thin (but healthy, I believe). His normal resting heart rate is about 45 bpm. The main reason he won't call his doctor or visit the emergency room is because one time the cardiologist on call at the emergency room said to him, "It's probably not serious, and if it is, the medication you would need to take has worse side effects than the irregular heartbeat." Personally, I don't like that response, but my husband is satisfied with it. I'd appreciate a recommendation on what to do. Thanks.

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Dear Candi,

I absolutely think your husband should seek the opinion of a cardiologist (preferable one who specializes in rhythm disturbances - an electrophysiologist). It is quite possible that he has a type of heart rhythm that is now easily treatable with a single outpatient procedure - no need for life-long medications at all. He may have what is called a supraventricular tachycardia (or SVT) that can be treated by ablation (that is burning the small short circuit pathway in his heart). This can be diagnosed by wearing a small heart monitor around until an episode occurs. Hope this helps. Please feel free to write back with any additional questions.

Information provided here is for general educational purposes only. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and treatments. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please Call 1 - 800 - CCF - CARE for an appointment at Desk F15 with a cardiologist

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