Conditions
Fast heartbeats
5.0 on GoogleYour heart may beat faster than usual for many reasons. Often, it’s harmless, but we recommend specialist diagnosis as it could be a sign of something more.
Registered. Regulated. Trusted.CQC-registered clinic · GMC-registered clinicians
Understanding the cause of your rapid heart rate is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment. I can develop a personalised plan to manage your heart rhythm.
Dr Ravi Assomull, Consultant Cardiologist and Founder
Video FAQs
View our short videos designed specifically to answer your questions
Summary
In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull, a leading private cardiologist in London, explains what atrial fibrillation is and why it increases stroke risk. He outlines how the atria stop contracting normally and begin to fibrillate, allowing clots to form and travel to the brain. Clear guidance from a trusted London heart specialist.
Transcript
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder affecting people in this country. We believe it affects 1.5 million people currently, with unfortunately around 370,000 people totally unaware they even have it. It's critical to know you've got atrial fibrillation because unfortunately having this diagnosis increases your risk of stroke. What do I mean when I say atrial fibrillation? Well, very simply, what normally happens is the collecting chambers of the heart, the atria, contracts in a synchronised fashion. In atrial fibrillation, that stops and the atria starts shaking around, they start fibrillating. Now, when the atria starts fibrillating, what happens is clots can form in the heart because the blood is stagnant. And the real risk here is those clots can be propagated from the collecting chambers of the heart to the pumping chambers of the heart and outwards into the brain where it can cause a large and life-changing stroke.
Summary
In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull, a leading private cardiologist in London, outlines the key symptoms of atrial fibrillation, including fast irregular heartbeats, fatigue and breathlessness. He explains why some people have no symptoms at all and how this increases the risk of an undiagnosed stroke. Essential guidance from an experienced London heart specialist.
Transcript
The symptoms of atrial fibrillation typically are one of a fast, irregular heartbeat, and these can be associated with other symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness and chest pain. However, in a proportion of people, there are no symptoms whatsoever. Now this may sound like good news, but actually it's not. Because when you have no symptoms, we cannot make the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation because you may not come to your doctor. And failing to make the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation puts you at an increased risk of stroke.
Summary
In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull, a leading private cardiologist in London, explains the common causes of atrial fibrillation. He discusses age related risk, underlying heart disease, conditions such as cardiomyopathy and the impact of lifestyle factors including alcohol. Essential viewing for anyone seeking expert advice from a trusted London heart specialist.
Transcript
Atrial fibrillation can occur for a variety of reasons. Above the age of 80, it affects 1 in 10 people. The commonest causes of atrial fibrillation are underlying heart disease such as hypertension, coronary disease, and also if you have any pre-existing cardiovascular conditions such as leaking valves or heart muscle disorders known as cardiomyopathies. Finally, lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption can affect atrial fibrillation, and certainly we have seen atrial fibrillation in people who have had alcoholic binges.
Summary
In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull, a leading private cardiologist in London, explains how atrial fibrillation is highly manageable. He discusses stroke prevention with anticoagulants, symptom control through medication, and treatments such as cardioversion and ablation. Dr Assomull also highlights the importance of lifestyle changes. Ideal for anyone seeking clear guidance from a London heart specialist.
Transcript
Atrial fibrillation is very much manageable. There are two key facets we need to get on top of here. First, and by far the most important thing, is stroke risk. If atrial fibrillation is present and you are at increased risk of stroke, either due to your age or any pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or if you've had a stroke before, then you would be a candidate for medications that are called anticoagulants. These thin your blood and prevent clots forming in your heart and massively reduce your risk of stroke. The second facet we need to manage when we have someone with atrial fibrillation is symptoms. Now if you've got no symptoms, it may be that nothing needs to be done at all. However, if atrial fibrillation causes symptoms because you're feeling that lack of cardiac output, when you get atrial fibrillation you lose 20% of your cardiac output, then actually treatments simply such as medications by slowing your heart down should make you feel better. But if that fails to work, then we have procedures that can restore your heart back into a normal heart rhythm, things like cardioversion, which is a controlled electrical shock to your heart done under deep sedation, or more complex procedures such as ablations, where you have the best chance of staying free from atrial fibrillation in the long term. Having said all of this, we shouldn't forget lifestyle factors. And we know that drinking less alcohol, exercising more, getting adequate sleep, excluding other conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea, play a critically important role.
Summary
In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull, a leading private cardiologist in London, explains why atrial fibrillation cannot currently be cured. He outlines how medication, cardioversion and ongoing management can control symptoms, while new research aims to reduce recurrence. If you need expert advice from a London heart specialist, this video offers clear guidance.
Transcript
In all brutal honesty, atrial fibrillation currently cannot be cured. It's certainly something that can be controlled, but we need to be cognizant of the fact that once you develop atrial fibrillation, regardless of what initial therapies we put in place, be those tablets or procedures such as cardioversion, there is a fair chance that you will have a recurrence in your lifetime. However, having said that, there is ongoing research and new trials that minimise the risk of recurrence of atrial fibrillation. But the truth is that atrial fibrillation currently is incurable.
Heartbeat disorders where your heart beats faster: SVT, atrial flutter and more
The feeling of your heart beating faster than usual can be concerning. It’s not usually anything to worry about. Still, if you experience your heart beating faster than 100 beats per minute and you’re not doing anything to cause it, we recommend investigating further.
If you come and see Dr Ravi Assomull, he will recommend the tests you need to get a diagnosis. Below, we discuss some of the most common heartbeat disorders where your heart beats faster.
Extra/premature heartbeats
Extra, or premature, heartbeats are beats that happen outside your normal rhythm. If you have a structurally normal heart, this is nothing to worry about. If your heart has structural abnormalities, this condition could indicate you are at risk of other, more serious conditions.
The most common causes of this condition are environmental. For example, if you have consumed too much caffeine or alcohol and if you are overly tired. Sometimes it can be caused by hormonal changes and viral infections. If you are concerned about your lifestyle, Dr Ravi Assomull can help you identify modifications that could improve your heart health significantly.
Superventricular tachycardia (SVT)
This condition causes an erratic heartbeat or a very fast one, where your heart beats over 150 times per minute. It is caused by problems with the signalling in your heart and can stop your heart filling with blood properly.
Modifying your lifestyle is an effective way of preventing SVT and managing it if you have it. This includes following a heart-healthy lifestyle and managing your stress. If your SVT continues, you may need specific treatments. This can include medication, cardioversion, or surgery, such as catheter ablation or a pacemaker.
Key symptoms of Fast heartbeats
Dizziness
Dizziness is the sensation of feeling off balance or light-headed. You may feel as though your surroundings or you are spinning or moving (called vertigo).
Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is when you find breathing challenging, wheezing, or breathlessness. Other heart conditions such as angina, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure can all cause shortness of breath.
Palpitations
Heart palpitations are the feeling that your heart is fluttering, racing, pounding, or like you’ve missed heartbeats. Palpitations can happen anytime, even while resting, and may be felt in the chest, neck, or throat.
Recommended tests for Fast heartbeats
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
An electrocardiogram is a test that measures and records your heart’s electrical activity and rhythm, including the strength and speed of your heartbeat.
Blood tests
Blood tests help us assess how well your heart functions, identify risk factors and monitor certain heart conditions.
Ambulatory ECG monitor
Ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors are devices that help take readings of your heart’s electrical activity during your daily activities over a longer period of time.
Book your consultation with Dr Ravi Assomull today
Looking after your heart is the most important thing you can do to improve your longevity and quality of life in the long term.
We’re here for you during your journey to better heart health. We provide tests and management strategies to help identify what might be wrong and where you can improve your lifestyle to reach prime heart health.
Book an appointment today to speak to our expert Integrative Cardiologist, Dr Ravi Assomull, about your heart concerns.
You can email us at: enquiries@cardiologist.london
Or call us at: 020 3576 2885
Frequently asked questions
Answers from the team at Cardiologist London. For personalised advice, book a consultation or call 020 3576 2885.
What counts as a fast heart rate?
A resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute in adults is called tachycardia. A fast rate can be a normal response to exercise, stress, caffeine or illness - what matters is whether it happens at rest, how it starts and stops, and whether other symptoms accompany it.
When is a fast heartbeat serious?
Seek urgent help if a racing heart comes with chest pain, severe breathlessness, dizziness or blackouts - call 999. Episodes that start abruptly for no reason, last more than a few minutes or recur deserve a cardiology assessment even if they settle on their own.
What tests will I need for a fast heart rate?
An ECG captures the rhythm at that moment; because episodes often come and go, an ambulatory (wearable) ECG monitor over days to weeks is frequently the key test. Blood tests check for triggers such as thyroid problems or anaemia, and an echocardiogram looks at the heart's structure.