Palpitations

Question 1

What are some causes of palpitations (think probable, serious and pitfalls)?

Answer 1

1. probable: anxiety, ectopics, sinus tachycardia, drugs eg stimulants 2. serious: arrhythmia (torsades, VF, bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome), WPW syndrome, electrolyte disturbance (hypokaelaemia, hyponatraemia, hypoglycaemia) 3. pitfalls: fever/ infection, pregnancy, menopause, drugs/ (caffeine/ codeine), mitral valve dsease, aortic incompetence, hypoxia/ hypercapnia