Skipping Beats

  A close friend said her heart was skipping beats.  She was born with 5 chambers in her heart (what's the 5th one do?) and she's periodically skipping beats.
  She's concerned
  Should I take her to emergency NOW or make an appointment?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear RB:
The normal number of chambers in the heart is four.  Five chambers implies that your friend has some sort of congenital heart disease; an echocardiogram (a cardiac ultrasound) would be able to detail her heart structure.  If she has just started having problems with her heart rate or rhythm, she should have the problem investigated by a cardiologist.  If she is having symptoms or is concerned, she should get to her closest emergency room.
Information provided in the Heart Forum is of a general nature.  Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor.  If your friend would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiac electrophysiologist