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Medically reviewed guide · Last updated: 27 October 2026 · Reading time: approx. 7 min
Skipped Heartbeats: Harmless or a Warning Sign?
At a glance
What is it?A brief stumble, pause or “extra beat” feeling in the heart — usually caused by extrasystoles (additional heartbeats).
Usually harmlessoccasional extra beats are very common and, in people with healthy hearts, are as a rule not dangerous.
Common triggersstress, caffeine, alcohol, lack of sleep, nicotine and an overactive thyroid.
The most important distinctiona persistently irregular pulse can point to atrial fibrillation.
The self-testfeel your pulse — is it regular or irregular? That is the first important clue.
Call 112 (emergency number in Germany) immediatelyskipped heartbeats together with chest pain, shortness of breath, severe dizziness or fainting.
What are skipped heartbeats?
Skipped heartbeats feel as if the heart briefly stumbles, pauses or adds an “extra beat”. Some people feel a thump right up into the throat, others a queasy flip-flop in the chest. In the vast majority of cases, so-called extrasystoles are behind it — additional heartbeats that fall outside the normal rhythm. They are often followed by a short pause, which is felt as the actual “skip”.
A fast, attack-like racing heart is something different from occasional skipped beats — it is covered in the article on heart palpitations. This article is about single skipped or extra beats.
Almost everyone has extra beats like these from time to time — mostly without even noticing. Skipped heartbeats are often noticed at rest, for example in bed in the evening, when there are no other distractions. That makes them unsettling, but in itself it is not yet a reason for concern.
The most important point first Occasional skipped heartbeats in people whose hearts are otherwise healthy are as a rule harmless. What matters is whether accompanying symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or dizziness come on as well, and whether your pulse is regular or irregular at the time.
Harmless or dangerous? The patterns compared
The key question is not “is my heart skipping?” but “how is it skipping, and what else is happening?”
Pattern
What it feels like
What it usually means
Next step
Single extra beats with an otherwise regular pulse
Single “stumbles” followed by a pause, often at rest, disappearing on their own
Usually harmless
Reduce triggers, keep a log
Persistently irregular, “chaotic” pulse
The beats come at completely uneven intervals
Can point to atrial fibrillation — a heart rhythm disorder that can increase the risk of stroke
Have it assessed and treated by a doctor
Racing heart
The heart beats too fast for a sustained period
A different symptom from skipped beats; can be harmless
Have it assessed if it lasts a long time or comes with other symptoms
Skipped heartbeats with chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting
Stumbling together with these accompanying symptoms
Can point to a serious heart rhythm disorder or a heart problem
112
Table scrolls to the right
Understand and document skipped heartbeats
Record episodes, triggers and your pulse in brite — a clear overview that is worth its weight in gold at your appointment. Free of charge.
Skipped heartbeats often have no dangerous cause, but are encouraged by everyday factors. A link with your own lifestyle can often be identified.
Stimulants: caffeine, alcohol (“holiday heart” after drinking a lot of alcohol), nicotine and energy drinks.
Stress and tension: psychological strain and inner restlessness can trigger extra beats.
Lack of sleep and exhaustion.
Overactive thyroid: an overactive thyroid gland throws the heart out of rhythm more easily.
Electrolyte deficiency: too little magnesium or potassium, for example when taking water tablets (diuretics).
Medicines and substances: some medicines can encourage skipped heartbeats.
Heart disease: less common, but important — for example heart failure or coronary heart disease.
The link with coffee, alcohol or stressful periods in particular is easy to observe for yourself. A simple log helps you recognise patterns.
Taking your pulse: the most important self-test
The simplest and most important self-test for skipped heartbeats is to feel your own pulse. It tells you whether your heartbeat is regular or irregular — and that is crucial for classifying it. The self-test is a guide and does not replace a diagnosis.
Find your pulse: place two fingers (not your thumb) on the inside of your wrist, below the base of your thumb, and press lightly.
Count: count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by two — that gives you your pulse per minute.
Judge the rhythm: do the beats come at even intervals (regular) or completely jumbled (irregular)?
Note it down: record the value, the rhythm, the time and possible triggers — ideal for your conversation with the doctor.
A persistently irregular pulse should always be assessed by a doctor. Single skips with an otherwise regular pulse, on the other hand, are usually harmless.
Your pulse log, always with you
With brite you record your pulse, episodes and triggers — the best basis for your practice to get to the bottom of skipped heartbeats quickly.
Skipped heartbeats are usually harmless, but there are clear situations in which you should have them checked or act immediately.
Have them assessed by a doctor promptly if the skipped heartbeats occur frequently or last a long time, if your pulse is irregular at the time, or if you already have heart disease. Even if the symptom makes you very anxious, a check-up makes sense — if only for reassurance.
Call 112 immediately If skipped heartbeats occur together with chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, severe dizziness, fainting or near-fainting. This combination can point to a serious heart rhythm disorder or a heart problem and is an emergency: call 112 (emergency number in Germany).
Diagnosis: how the practice finds the cause
To find the cause, your practice has simple and informative examinations at its disposal. It is important to describe the episodes as precisely as possible.
Because skipped heartbeats often disappear just when you are sitting in the practice, a long-term ECG is particularly helpful. A well-kept symptom and pulse log also makes it easier to classify them.
The medication angle: when medicines play a part
Some medicines and substances can encourage skipped heartbeats. Water tablets (diuretics), for example, can lead to a lack of magnesium or potassium — and an electrolyte deficiency is itself one of the triggers. The interaction check shows whether the medicines you take could encourage skipped heartbeats or combine unfavourably.
If medicines such as beta blockers (for example bisoprolol or metoprolol) or magnesium have been prescribed for you, take them reliably. If a magnesium or potassium deficiency has been confirmed, correcting it can reduce extra beats; without a deficiency, the benefit of taking magnesium has not been established. Do not take supplements in high doses without supervision — if skipped heartbeats persist, discuss this with your practice.
What you can do yourself
Reduce triggers — cut down on caffeine, alcohol and nicotine and watch whether the skipped beats become less frequent.
Look after sleep and recovery — enough sleep and reducing stress (for example with relaxation exercises) can help considerably.
Drink enough and make sure you get a balanced intake of magnesium and potassium from your diet.
Keep a log — when does it happen, for how long, with which trigger? That helps both you and your practice.
Do not panic — anxiety and constantly listening to your own body can make skipped heartbeats worse. Knowing that they have been checked and are harmless is often a noticeable relief.
Spot triggers, understand patterns
brite helps you document skipped heartbeats and possible triggers over time — free of charge and ad-free.
Usually not. Occasional extra beats are very common in people with healthy hearts and are as a rule harmless. It becomes dangerous if the skipped heartbeats come with chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting, or if the pulse is permanently irregular — then they should be assessed.
At rest there are no distractions or background noise, so you notice your own heartbeat more consciously. In addition, the calming part of the nervous system has a greater influence in the evening, which can encourage extra beats. The skipping is then more noticeable, but is usually no more dangerous.
Skipped heartbeats are single “extra beats” or a brief pause with an otherwise normal pulse. A racing heart is a heartbeat that is persistently too fast. Both can be harmless, but should be assessed by a doctor if they come with symptoms such as shortness of breath or dizziness, or if they last a long time.
Yes, in sensitive people caffeine, energy drinks, alcohol and nicotine can encourage extra beats. A simple test is to cut down on these stimulants for a while and watch whether the skipped heartbeats become less frequent. Stress and lack of sleep often play a part too.
Place two fingers (not your thumb) on the inside of your wrist below the base of your thumb and press lightly. Count the beats for 30 seconds and double the number. Above all, pay attention to whether the rhythm is regular or irregular — that is an important clue for your practice.
Yes. An overactive thyroid speeds up the metabolism and can trigger skipped heartbeats, a racing heart and inner restlessness. That is why a blood test of thyroid levels is often part of the assessment when frequent skipped heartbeats appear for the first time.
Have them checked if the skipped heartbeats occur frequently or last a long time, if your pulse is irregular or if you already have heart disease. Call the emergency number 112 immediately if skipped heartbeats come with chest pain, shortness of breath, severe dizziness or fainting.
A long-term (Holter) ECG records the heart rhythm over 24 to 72 hours during everyday life. Because skipped heartbeats often occur only occasionally and disappear just when you are at the practice, a short ECG can miss them. The long-term ECG increases the chance of capturing the extra beats or a rhythm disorder.
If a magnesium or potassium deficiency has been confirmed, correcting it can reduce extra beats. Without a deficiency, the benefit of taking magnesium has not been established. Do not take supplements in high doses without supervision; if skipped heartbeats persist, discuss this with your practice instead.
Skipped heartbeats come and go — which is exactly what makes them hard to classify. If you record episodes, your pulse and triggers over time, you give your practice the decisive clues. brite makes that easy.
Health history — document episodes of skipped heartbeats, your pulse and possible triggers (caffeine, stress, sleep) over time and bring the overview to your appointment. Track your history
Pill reminder — if medicines (such as beta blockers or magnesium) have been prescribed, brite reliably reminds you to take them. Set up a reminder
Interaction check — checks whether the medicines you take could encourage skipped heartbeats or combine unfavourably. Check now
Digital medication plan — all your medicines clearly organised in one place for your GP practice and cardiologist. To the medication plan
Deutsche Herzstiftung (German Heart Foundation): skipped heartbeats and extrasystoles — German source. Accessed 2026.
Gesundheitsinformation.de (IQWiG, Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care): Heart rhythm disorders — German source. Accessed 2026.
European Society of Cardiology (ESC): Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation (2024). Accessed 2026.
This article is for general information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Feeling your pulse is a guide and not a diagnosis. If you have skipped heartbeats together with chest pain, shortness of breath, severe dizziness or fainting, please call the emergency number 112 without delay.
