Palpitations Flashcards
Regular and pounding palpitations
Anxiety
Stress
Pregnancy
Slow palpitations
Pharmacological causes
Alternating fast-slow palpitations
Sick-sinus syndrome
Fast irregular
AF/flutter
Ectopy (atrial/ventricular)
Fast regular palpitations
Lots of causes…
What questions must you ask regarding palpitations?
What do you mean by palpitations?
Could you tap it out for me?
Establish duration and frequency
Are there any triggers e.g. stress, anxiety, caffeine, alcohol, activity
Can you stop your palpitations by vasovagal manoeuvre (holding breath)
Pre-existing cardiovascular condition/other conditions inc. thyroid disorders
Drugs taken
What would it suggest if the patient can stop palpitations by vasovagal manoeuvres (holding breath)?
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Associated conditions and symptoms
Hyperthyroidism - diarrhoea
- eye changes
- tremor
- heat intolerance
- weight loss
Phaeochromocytoma - headache
sweating
flushing
tremor
AF
- syncope
- dizziness
- LOC
HF
- N&V
- sweating
- pallor
- number of pillows
PE
- SOB
- Lower limb
- swelling
- pallor
Anxiety Hyperventilation TIngling Low mood Tremor
Atrial myxoma
-weight loss
What drugs are relevant to palpitations?
Beta-blockers Beta-agonists Thyroxine Digoxin GTN spray
What recreational drugs are important for palpitations and why??
Cocaine
Ecstasy
Amphetamines
Cause dizziness, palpitations, tachy and chest pain
Cannabis at high doses
bradycardia
Cannabis at low doses causes
tachycardia
Opiates cause
Bradycardia
