Palpitation Checklist

Transcription

1 Palpitation Checklist Working together to improve the diagnosis, treatment quality of life for all those affected by arrhythmias Palpitation Checklist Registered Charity No

2 Introduction When someone becomes uncomfor tably aw of hear t beating, it is often described as experiencing a palpitation, or palpitations. The sensation may be awness of isolated single beats that different from normal, or may be associated a feeling that the hear t is beating abnormally fast or irregularly. Such sensations can occur due to normal variations in the hear t rhythm, but can also indicate the presence of an abnormal hear t rhythm an arrhythmia. There a small number of uncommon types of arrhythmias which can be dangerous need to be recognised in order to be treated promptly. Some types of arrhythmias tend to keep recurring be associated chest discomfor t, shor tness of breath or symptoms such as dizziness which, although not dangerous, can occur at unpredictable times be disruptive to every day life. Most commonly of all, palpitations may just reflect extra beats which merely a variation of the normal hear t rhythm can be safely ignored. Completing this list before seeing your doctor or ing the sensations you feeling a health c professional, will help to identify which type of palpitation is occurring help to ensure you get the best medical advice (if necessary) treatment. Checklist Do you experience palpitations/shor tness of breath?... Frequency Duration 1. When was the very first time you had the sensation? How often have you felt it since? Do your palpitations star t stop suddenly or slowly? Have you had any hear t investigations such as an ECG or hear t scan in the past? Does it seem to be getting more or less frequent? Has an ECG (a recording of your heart rhythm) ever been done while the abnormal sensation was happening? (If so, can you get hold of a copy?)... Rate Rhythm 1. Can you tell if your hear t rhythm is regular or irregular? Does the sensation feel like isolated single abnormal beats or dropped/missed beats, gaps in between where the hear t seems to be beating normally? Alternatively, does it feel as though the hear t rhythm is continuously abnormal for a period, for example a long run of a continuous fast hear t rhythm or a period of time where the hear t rhythm seems irregular abnormal? If the sensation seems continuous for a period of time, what is the longest duration that a single run of abnormal beats has lasted?...

3 Palpitation Checklist 5. Did you or anyone else manage to count your pulse whilst the abnormal rhythm was present, if so what was your pulse rate? Are you sufficiently aw of how your heart is beating when the abnormal rhythm occurs that you could mimic the rhythm by tapping your finger on a table top? (Your doctor may ask you to try to do this during the consultation). Describe how you feel whilst experiencing the palpitations 1. How do you feel while the abnormal heart beats occurring? Has anybody been you when you had an attack how did they say you looked at the time? When the abnormal rhythm is occurring, you able to carry on your normal activities or you forced to sit or lie d? Have you found any methods that will stop the abnormal rhythm such as taking a deep breath or drinking a gulp of cold water? Have you ever had a blackout? If so, did this coincide a time when you were experiencing palpitations or was this on a separate occasion?... Family History 1. Are you kn to have a heart or any other medical? For instance, have you ever been admitted to hospital what was thought to be a heart related problem? Are there any heart s or other diseases that you aw of in your family? Has anybody ever died suddenly at a young age (under 40 years) in your family? At times when you not experiencing the abnormal rhythm, you able to walk up a hill or carry out other types of normal everyday exertion? If not, what stops you? If you find any of points difficult to underst it may help to the question your Armed this information, your doctor will be able to make an assessment of what is the best step to take. You may like to refer to the basic guide for caring for people palpitations that is on the Department of Health website

4 Checklist - Could your hear t rhythm problem be dangerous? Atrial Fibrillation Blackout Checklist Bradycardia (Slow Hear t Rhythm) CRT/ICD Catheter Ablation Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation The Heart Rhythm Charity How to find more information A list of useful sites can be found at - trhythmcharity.org.uk. This list is not exhaustive it is constantly evolving. If we have excluded anyone, please accept our sincerest apologies be assured that as soon as the matter is brought to the attention of the, we will quickly act to ensure maximum inclusiveness in our endeavours. If you wish to contact us direct please phone on or info@hear trhythmcharity.org.uk All patient booklets available to dload from our website or to order please call Drug Treatment for Hear t Rhythm Disorders (s) Electrophysiology Studies Exercising an ICD FAQs Highlighting the Work of the ICD Implantable President Loop Recorder Prof. A John Camm Executive Committee National Service Framework Chapter 8 CRT/Pacemaker Pacemaker Palpitation Checklist Remote Monitoring for ICDs Sudden Cardiac Arrest Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Tachycardia (Fast Hear t Rhythm) Mr Mark Bullock Mr Nigel Farrell Dr Adam Fitzpatrick Prof. Richard Schilling Mrs Trudie Lobban MBE Prof. Hein J J Wellens Prof. Silvia G Priori Mr W B Beaumont President OBE Rt. Hon Tony Blair HM King Constantine of Greece Prof A John Camm Mr Pierre Chauvineau Dr Derek Connelly Dr Campbell Cowan Dr Wyn Davies Dr Sabine Ernst Mr Nigel Farrell Dr Mathew Fay Dr Adam Fitzpatrick Dr Michael Gammage Mrs Angela Griffiths Dr Guy Haywood Mrs Sue Jones Dr Gerry Kaye Dr Nick Linker Mrs Trudie Lobban Ms Nicola Meldrum Prof John Morgan Mrs Jayne Mudd Dr Francis Murgatroyd Dr Kim Rajappan Dr Richard Schilling Dr Graham Stuar t Mrs Jenny Tagney Mr Paul Turner Dr Derek Connelly Mr Nigel Farrell Dr Adam Fitzpatrick Mrs Trudie Lobban Prof Hein J J Wellens Prof Silvia G Priori W B Beaumont, OBE Rt Hon Tony Blair CV37 Warwickshire 8YL CV37 8YL info@heartrhythmalliance.org info@heartrhythmcharity.org.uk endorsed by Published March 2008 Reviewed April 2011

5 Checklist - Could your hear t rhythm problem be dangerous? Atrial Fibrillation Blackout Checklist Bradycardia (Slow Hear t Rhythm) CRT/ICD Catheter Ablation Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation The Heart Rhythm Charity How to find more information A list of useful sites can be found at - trhythmcharity.org.uk. This list is not exhaustive it is constantly evolving. If we have excluded anyone, please accept our sincerest apologies be assured that as soon as the matter is brought to the attention of the, we will quickly act to ensure maximum inclusiveness in our endeavours. If you wish to contact us direct please phone on or info@hear trhythmcharity.org.uk All patient booklets available to dload from our website or to order please call Drug Treatment for Hear t Rhythm Disorders (s) Electrophysiology Studies Exercising an ICD FAQs Highlighting the Work of the ICD Implantable President Loop Recorder Prof. A John Camm Executive Committee National Service Framework Chapter 8 CRT/Pacemaker Pacemaker Palpitation Checklist Remote Monitoring for ICDs Sudden Cardiac Arrest Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Tachycardia (Fast Hear t Rhythm) Mr Mark Bullock Mr Nigel Farrell Dr Adam Fitzpatrick Prof. Richard Schilling Mrs Trudie Lobban MBE Prof. Hein J J Wellens Prof. Silvia G Priori Mr W B Beaumont President OBE Rt. Hon Tony Blair HM King Constantine of Greece Prof A John Camm Mr Pierre Chauvineau Dr Derek Connelly Dr Campbell Cowan Dr Wyn Davies Dr Sabine Ernst Mr Nigel Farrell Dr Mathew Fay Dr Adam Fitzpatrick Dr Michael Gammage Mrs Angela Griffiths Dr Guy Haywood Mrs Sue Jones Dr Gerry Kaye Dr Nick Linker Mrs Trudie Lobban Ms Nicola Meldrum Prof John Morgan Mrs Jayne Mudd Dr Francis Murgatroyd Dr Kim Rajappan Dr Richard Schilling Dr Graham Stuar t Mrs Jenny Tagney Mr Paul Turner Dr Derek Connelly Mr Nigel Farrell Dr Adam Fitzpatrick Mrs Trudie Lobban Prof Hein J J Wellens Prof Silvia G Priori W B Beaumont, OBE Rt Hon Tony Blair CV37 Warwickshire 8YL CV37 8YL info@heartrhythmalliance.org info@heartrhythmcharity.org.uk endorsed by Published March 2008 Reviewed April 2011