Most palpitations are normal and harmless. Some may be alleviated by avoiding known stimulants, including caffeine, alcohol, and certain medications. Persistent irregularities may be treated with prescription drugs to treat arrhythmia.Interventionary measures that have proved effective include cardioversion (an electrical shock treatment used with atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia – the two most serious forms of rapid heartbeat), pacemaker implantation (doing the job of the sinus node), catheter ablation therapy (destruction of abnormal areas such as the electrical conduits causing pre-excitation syndrome), and surgical implantation of a defibrillator.
