Diagnostic Tests for Rapid heart beat
Diagnostic Test list for Rapid heart beat:
The list of diagnostic tests
mentioned in various sources as
used in the diagnosis of Rapid heart beat
includes:
- Physical examination
- Note pulse rate, rhythm and regularity. If rate is over 150 beats per minute may suggest paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. If rate is less than 150 beats per minute it is more likely to be sinus tachycardia which can be associated with exercise, fever, drugs or hyperthyroidism
- Temperature (if fever is present with enlarged heart and heart murmur must consider bacterial endocarditis; fever itself may cause rapid heart beat
- Blood pressure. If blood pressure is high may suggest phaeochromocytoma or hyperthyroidism
- Cardiovascular examination looking for enlarged heart (may suggest congestive cardiac failure, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism), heart murmur (may suggest valvular heart disease such as acute or chronic rheumatic fever or bacterial endocarditis )
- Look for signs of hyperthyroidism including agitation, restlessness, enlarged thyroid (goiter), warm and sweaty palms, fine tremor, protruding eyes
- Blood tests
- Full blood count (anemia may cause rapid heart beat)
- Electrolytes (low potassium and low magnesium levels may cause rapid heart beat)
- Kidney function tests
- Thyroid function tests
- Serum digoxin level, if the person is on digoxin medication
- Blood cultures, ASO titres, ESR if fever is present
- Viral antibodies, if suspect myocarditis
- Urine tests
- 24 hour urine collection for VMA or metanephrines, if suspect phaeochromocytoma
- Drug screen
- Radiological investigations
- Chest X-Ray
- Echocardiogram to look for valvular heart disease and to assess function of the left ventricle of the heart
- 12 lead ECG
- 24 hour blood pressure monitoring
- 24 or 48 hour Holter monitoring is useful in the diagnosis of intermittent rapid heart beat and palpitations
- Electrophysiological studies
Home Diagnostic Testing
These home medical tests may be relevant to Rapid heart beat causes:
- High Blood Pressure: Home Testing
- Heart Health: Home Testing:
Conditions listing medical symptoms: Rapid heart beat:
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.
Conditions listing medical complications: Rapid heart beat:
The following list of medical conditions have 'Rapid heart beat'
or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.
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