Nearly everyone’s heart does the occasional skip or two, especially during times of stress or fatigue. But when it happens frequently and the heart feels as if it’s fluttering, then it’s time to see your doctor.

You may have atrial flutter, or atrial fibrillation, which is an abnormal heart rhythm. The main danger is the heart doesn’t pump blood well when it’s beating too fast, and vital organs may not get enough oxygen.

Fortunately, there are effective methods to diagnose and treat atrial fibrillation. They include medication and/or electrophysiology procedures to fix the areas in your heart causing an irregular heartbeat.

“If you have a heart that tends to flutter — and you're not in love or scared—it's best to have it checked out,” said Shannon P., a Salem Cardiovascular Center patient recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. “It's easy to detect, and the center can tailor treatment to meet your exact needs, so don't let it go.”