PALPITATIONS DIAGNOSIS |
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Palpitations are diagnosed through a
medical history, a physical examination, an electrocardiogram (ECG),
and screening for psychiatric disorders. It is often difficult to
distinguish palpitations from panic disorder, a common problem in
which the person experiences frequent and unexplained
"fight-or-flight" responses, which is the body's natural physical
reaction to extreme danger or physical exertion, but without the
obvious external stimulus.
To accurately diagnose palpitations, one of the irregular heartbeats
must be "captured" on an EKG, which shows the heart's activity.
Electrodes covered with a type of gel that conducts electrical
impulses are placed on the patient's chest, arms, and legs. These
electrodes send impulses of the heart's activity to a recorder,
which traces them on paper. This electrocardiography test takes
about 10 minutes and is performed in a physician's office or
hospital. Because the palpitations are unlikely to occur during a
standard EKG, Holter monitoring is often performed. In this
procedure, the patient wears a small, portable tape recorder that is
attached to a belt or shoulder strap and connected to electrode
disks on his or her chest. The Holter monitor records the heart's
rhythm during normal activities. Some medical centers are now using
"event recorders" that the patient can carry for weeks or months.
When the palpitations occur, the patient presses a button on the
device, which captures the information about the palpitations for
physician evaluation. Later the recording can be transmitted over
the telephone line for analysis. |
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| PALPITATIONS RELATED ITEMS |
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