Assessment
Questionnaire
Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Rapid heart beat. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.
Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:
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Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
Why: Constant rapid heart beat (tachycardia) may signify hyperthyroidism, fever or overuse of caffeine and other drugs. Intermittent rapid heart beat is more likely related to a heart arrhythmia.
Why: There is a normal heart rate increase as a response to various situations such as exercise, exertion, large meal, emotion, nervousness, anxiety, stress, worry, excitement and anger.
Why: e.g. Rheumatic fever, heart attack, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, stroke (atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke 5 fold), myocarditis, heart failure, panic attacks.
Why: Many medications may cause rapid heart beat e.g. nasal decongestants; digoxin; almost all anti-arrhythmic drugs (medications taken for abnormal heart rhythms) may worsen existing arrhythmias or provoke new arrhythmias in some people (such as amiodarone, sotalol, verapamil, diltiazem, procainamide, disopyramide, quinidine, lignocaine, flecainide and beta -blockers); thyroid medications; some appetite suppressants; ventolin; theophylline; hydralazine; minoxidil.
Why: e.g. MSG in Chinese food may precipitates a racing heart beat in some people.
Why: some people are sensitive to the effects of alcohol and experience rapid heart beat and palpitations as a side effect.
Why: some people are sensitive to effects of nicotine and experience rapid heart beat and palpitations.
Why: e.g. cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines - may cause rapid heart beat and palpitations.
Why: some people are sensitive to effects of caffeine and experience rapid heart beat and persistent or intermittent palpitations.
Why: Palpitations do not always imply "racing" of the heart.
Why: may indicate angina, heart attack, aortic stenosis.
Why: may indicate anxiety with hyperventilation (rapid breathing), mitral stenosis, cardiac failure, asthma, anemia.
Why: may indicate a more severe arrhythmia such as sick sinus syndrome, complete heart block, aortic stenosis or associated cerebrovascular disease.
Why: Fever itself may cause a rapid heart beat, but must consider bacterial endocarditis and rheumatic fever.
Why: is characteristic of paroxysmal Supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT).
Why: e.g. palpitations, increased heart rate, preference for cooler weather, increased appetite, weight loss, increased sweating, tremor, nervousness, irritability, diarrhea, lack of menstrual periods, frequent urination.
Why: e.g. palpitations, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles and lower legs.
Why: e.g. nervousness, shakiness, tremor, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, poor concentration, heart palpitations, racing heart, sweating, dizziness, diarrhea, lump in throat and frequency of urination.
Why: recurrent panic attacks occur in Panic disorder and may cause sudden, unexpected, short-lived episodes of intense anxiety.
Why: e.g. paroxysmal episodes of headache, pallor, sweating, chest tightness, tremor and heart palpitations.
Why: e.g. hot flushes, night sweats, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, dry vaginal, dry skin, headaches and sometimes diffuse hair loss.
The following list of conditions have 'Rapid heart beat' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Rapid heart beat or choose View All.
The following list of medical conditions have 'Rapid heart beat'
or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.
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Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 1 February, 2012 (3:47)
