What does it mean when your heart randomly skips a beat?

Normally the heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute . The rate may drop below 60 beats per minute in people who exercise routinely or take medicines that slow the heart. If your heart rate is fast (over 100 beats per minute), this is called tachycardia. A heart rate slower than 60 is called bradycardia.

Many people are unaware of minor irregular heartbeats, and even completely healthy people have extra or skipped heartbeats once in a while. Palpitations are more common as you age. Usually, these occasional arrhythmias are nothing to worry about .

An irregular or fluttering heartbeat could be caused by atrial fibrillation (AFib) , the most common type of irregular or abnormal heartbeat. Another heart problem, called premature ventricular contractions, can create this irregular beat.6 Eyl 2019

You should contact your doctor if you experience heart palpitations frequently, for longer than a few seconds, or if they are accompanied by dizziness, loss of consciousness, chest or upper body pain, nausea, excessive or unusual sweating, and shortness of breath.