A racing heart at rest — when you're not exercising or stressed — can mean your heart's structure is driving the rhythm. An echocardiogram checks for that in 45 minutes at home, without waiting weeks for a cardiology referral.
A heart that races at rest — when you're sitting quietly, lying in bed, or doing nothing strenuous — is an unusual signal. Anxiety and caffeine can cause palpitations, but those usually have a clear context. A racing heart that appears out of nowhere, repeatedly, when there's no obvious trigger, deserves a structural explanation. The heart's chambers, valves, and overall pump function all influence how it beats.
RULE OUT STRUCTURAL CAUSES FIRST
An echocardiogram is the standard first-line imaging study for evaluating palpitations and resting tachycardia. It checks chamber size, valve function, and pump strength in 45 minutes — at your home, this week, with no referral required.
If your heart is racing and you also have chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or feel faint — call 911 immediately. A sustained heart rate above 150 bpm at rest is a reason to seek emergency care.
Palpitations at rest and resting tachycardia have a range of causes — from structural heart disease to thyroid dysfunction. Here's what an echocardiogram can and can't evaluate:
Abnormal heart structure is one of the most common substrates for rhythm problems. When the heart muscle is weakened, thickened, or scarred, or when chambers become dilated and stretched, the electrical pathways can be disrupted — triggering arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, or ventricular ectopy. An echocardiogram evaluates the structural environment in which the heart's electrical system operates, identifying chamber dilation, hypertrophy, and reduced function that can drive abnormal rhythms.
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) — where one or both leaflets of the mitral valve bulge back into the left atrium during contraction — is one of the most commonly identified structural causes of palpitations at rest. It affects roughly 2–3% of the population and can cause a fluttering or racing sensation even in the absence of hemodynamically significant regurgitation. Mitral regurgitation (leaky valve) also creates volume overload on the left ventricle and atrium that can predispose to rhythm disturbances. An echocardiogram identifies MVP and grades regurgitation severity directly.
Dilated atria or ventricles — whether from long-standing hypertension, cardiomyopathy, or chronic valve disease — stretch the heart muscle tissue and alter its electrical properties. An enlarged left atrium is one of the strongest risk factors for atrial fibrillation. Dilated cardiomyopathy can cause tachycardia as the heart tries to compensate for reduced output by beating faster. An echocardiogram measures all four chamber dimensions and can identify dilation that is driving a racing heart pattern.
Hyperthyroidism and anxiety are legitimate causes of resting palpitations, and blood tests can evaluate thyroid function. However, these are diagnoses to arrive at after structural heart disease has been evaluated. Attributing palpitations to anxiety without ruling out cardiac causes is a common — and sometimes consequential — missed step. An echocardiogram and a thyroid panel together provide a much clearer picture than either alone.
An echocardiogram evaluates the structural causes of a racing heart. Here is what it checks — and what it's designed to find:
Echocardiogram · $397
Real-time ultrasound of all four chambers, all four valves, and overall pump function. Identifies mitral valve prolapse, regurgitation, chamber dilation, wall hypertrophy, reduced ejection fraction, and pericardial effusion. A board-certified cardiologist reviews every study and delivers a written report within 24–48 hours. Results can be shared with your primary care physician or any specialist for follow-up.
Traditional Path
BlackPoint Diagnostics
Atrial fibrillation, when undetected, carries a significant stroke risk. Dilated cardiomyopathy managed proactively responds better to treatment than when caught late. Getting structural clarity now means any necessary follow-up — an ECG, Holter monitor, or specialist referral — can happen with a complete picture already in hand.
Emanuel Papadakis, RDCS, RVT, brings hospital-grade portable ultrasound equipment directly to your home. No preparation is needed — no fasting, no contrast agents. You lie comfortably on your couch, bed, or a flat surface.
A small amount of gel is applied to the chest and a transducer is gently moved to several standard imaging positions. You can see your heart beating on-screen throughout the study. The scan uses no radiation and is completely painless. The full echocardiogram takes approximately 45 minutes.
Emanuel walks you through key findings before leaving — whether there are visible structural abnormalities, how the heart is functioning, and what the cardiologist will be reviewing. The formal written report arrives within 24–48 hours.
If the echo is structurally normal, that's meaningful information. It narrows the cause toward electrical or non-cardiac origins and points to the right next steps — whether that's a Holter monitor, thyroid workup, or reassurance. If something structural is found, you have specific, actionable findings to bring to your cardiologist.
A resting heart rate that periodically spikes, or a fluttering racing feeling that appears without any physical trigger, can have structural cardiac causes. Mitral valve prolapse, enlarged heart chambers, reduced pump function, and arrhythmias arising from structurally abnormal tissue are all possibilities. An echocardiogram evaluates the structural substrate — the foundation the electrical system operates on — and can identify or rule out most of these causes.
An echocardiogram evaluates the structural causes of palpitations — chamber size, valve function, pump strength. It does not record the electrical activity of the heart (that's an ECG or Holter monitor). However, the structural picture is the essential first step: many arrhythmias arise from a structurally abnormal heart, and knowing the structure guides what comes next.
No. BlackPoint Diagnostics does not require a physician referral. You book directly online and we come to your home in Southern Maine. If you'd like results shared with your doctor or a specialist, we can send the cardiologist-reviewed report directly to them.
Call 911 if your heart races and you also experience chest pain, feel faint or lose consciousness, cannot catch your breath, or the episode does not resolve on its own within a few minutes. A sustained heart rate above 150 bpm at rest is also a reason to seek emergency evaluation. Recurring episodes that are brief and resolve on their own are appropriate to evaluate with a scheduled echocardiogram.
Southern Maine · Mobile Service · No Referral
Book your echocardiogram this week. We come to your home, scan for structural causes in 45 minutes, and a cardiologist reviews results in 24–48 hours. Flat pricing, no referral required.
Book Your Echo This WeekEchocardiogram $397 · No Referral · Southern Maine · Results in 24–48 hrs
Cardiac Symptom
Chest Tightness Climbing Stairs
Exertional tightness can signal valve disease or reduced heart function.
Cardiac Symptom
Swollen Ankles & Shortness of Breath
The combination is a classic heart failure presentation.
Cardiac Symptom
Heart Palpitations
Racing or fluttering heart deserves a structural evaluation.