Doctor accidentally fixes patient’s irregular heartbeat — by sticking a finger in a very unexpected place
By Rachel Sacks
Published on May 5, 2026.
A 29-year-old man from Queens experienced heart palpitations at 140 beats per minute, far higher than the average resting heart rate of 60 to 100 bpm. Despite being admitted to the hospital, the doctor accidentally fixed these problems by performing a routine digital rectal exam. The patient was also prescribed an anticoagulant to prevent the formation of blood clots. The rectal examination was performed to stimulate the vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve in the body, which connects the brain to major organs. The cause of the irregular heartbeat was unknown, but it can sometimes be linked to another serious condition, congestive heart failure.
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