By Kristy Fowler

While it's common to describe your heart as “skipping a beat” when falling in love, cardiologists recommend you get your heart checked out if that happens. Heart palpitations are an uncomfortable sensation of people noticing their heart beating, which could be the sign of a heart condition.

These heart conditions are regularly diagnosed across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 12 million people in the United States will develop one of the most common types of irregular heartbeats — atrial fibrillation — by 2030.

“One in four adults in the U.S. will develop irregular heartbeats,” said Jayanthi Koneru, M.D., a cardiologist at VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital whose clinical expertise includes the entire gamut of clinical electrophysiology. “Regular exercise, appropriate sleeping habits and certain types of yoga are key lifestyle modifications for heart health. 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week is known to decrease adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the long-term.”

Koneru is actively involved in clinical trials of investigational mapping technologies for atrial fibrillation. He shared his insights on this common health condition and how to keep your heart healthy.

Why do heart palpitations occur?

What are some lifestyle choices that can cause heart palpitations?

What other conditions or medical emergencies can irregular heartbeats be a symptom of?

At what point should someone seek medical care for an irregular heartbeat?

Sign Up for VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital's E-Newsletter