Opening September 2026
Heart Palpitations on the Gold Coast
01The approach
Working Out What the Rhythm Is Doing
The difficulty with palpitations is that they rarely happen during the appointment. The clinical task is capturing the rhythm while the symptom is occurring, which usually means monitoring over time rather than a single recording. At Nuevo Medical, assessment of heart palpitations on the Gold Coast is carried out by our cardiologists using ECG, ambulatory monitoring and echocardiography where the heart's structure needs examining alongside its rhythm. Some rhythm disturbances are benign and some aren't, and distinguishing between them is precisely what the investigation is for. Call 0417 426 825 to enquire.
02How it's recorded
How Rhythm Is Recorded
Different recording methods suit different symptom patterns, and your cardiologist chooses accordingly.
- 01
Resting ECG
A short recording taken in the consulting room. Useful for establishing a baseline, though it only captures the rhythm at that moment.
- 02
Holter monitoring
Continuous recording over 24 hours or longer using a portable device. This suits symptoms occurring most days.
- 03
Event monitoring
A device worn over a longer period that records when activated or when it detects an abnormality. Better suited to infrequent episodes.
- 04
Echocardiography
Ultrasound imaging of the heart's structure and function. Rhythm disturbances sometimes relate to a structural finding, which this can identify.
03Preparation
Keeping a Symptom Diary Before Your Appointment
Because the rhythm is often normal during the consultation, what you can describe about the episodes carries real diagnostic weight. Your cardiologist will ask how the palpitations start and stop, whether they're regular or irregular, how long they last, how frequently they occur, what you were doing at the time and whether anything accompanies them such as dizziness or breathlessness. They'll also ask about caffeine, alcohol, medications, supplements and thyroid history. Keeping a short written record of episodes before the appointment, noting the time, duration and circumstances, makes that history considerably more precise. If a monitor is fitted, you'll be asked to keep a diary alongside it so recorded rhythms can be matched against symptoms. Findings are reviewed at a follow-up consultation.
04Questions
FAQs
Palpitations describe an awareness of the heartbeat, which people report variously as racing, pounding, fluttering or skipping. The term describes a symptom rather than a diagnosis.
A short recording only captures the rhythm during those minutes, and palpitations are frequently intermittent. Longer monitoring increases the chance of recording the rhythm while symptoms are actually occurring.
Both are known to influence heart rhythm in some people, along with certain medications, supplements and thyroid conditions. A cardiologist will ask about these as part of the assessment.
05Enquiries
Speak with the team
Opening September 2026
- Phone
- 0417 426 825