 [ Symptoms ] what are the symptoms of arrhythmias [ Disease ] an arrhythmia can be silent and not cause any symptoms a doctor can detect an irregular heartbeat during a physical exam by taking your pulse or through an electrocardiogram ecg or ekg when symptoms of an arrhythmia occur they may include palpitations a feeling of skipped heart beats fluttering or flip flops pounding in your chest dizziness or feeling light headed fainting shortness of breath chest discomfort weakness or fatigue feeling very tired