Well, no, don't be completely still, but somewhere way under 200 bpm is really best.

So, I've got this heart thing...met the cardiologist, and he's not someone I'd want to date, but I trust his reputation and all that. I'm set up to get ablated next week and I'm a good candidate and all, but I'm screamin' nervous, and of course still having bouts of crazy heartbeats.

I learned that these episodes can sometimes be aborted by holding your breath & bearing down or massaging the carotid artery. ( There is also something about dipping your face in ice water, but I haven't tried that one.)

So this afternoon, I was at school chatting with a mom of one of the kidsand I feel this wild rapid heart rate starting. So while she's talking, I take a huge breath and PUSH while nodding my head and trying to look perfectly casual. The breath isn't really helping so I continue trying to look natural while squeezing my neck like I'm trying to strangle myself.

It worked and stopped the palps; I'm not sure how ridiculous I looked.