What Causes Blackouts,palpitations And Tingling In Fingers?

Posted on Sat, 16 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 16 Aug 2014 Answered on

Mon, 8 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I'm female, 42, 5' 1", 120 pounds. I have a heart monitor implanted as in the past i have suffered blackouts and palpitations. Apparently sometimes I am missing heart beats, sometimes there are extra beats. For the last 6 days my heart feels as if its lurching irregularly every few beats. My heart also feels heavy. My left little finger is numb and tingling, this goes part way up my arm, some pain in upper left arm. I'm also very tired and don't feel like doing much, and getting some headaches. Should I visit my doctor (probably a 2 week wait for appointment)

Answered by Dr. Sukhvinder Singh (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Visit ER & contact monitoring agency

Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam
1. Since there were symptoms in the past as important as blackout, you must visit emergency room at least to get a preliminary clinical examination and ECG. These two things will help in ruling out a serious rhythm disorder or any serious condition.
2. You must also get in touch with the doctor who got the monitor implanted because whenever there is a serious arrhythmia the company which is monitoring your rhythm and managing recorder will inform your doctor. This can be done telephonically too. If there is a serious issue, they will let you know.
3. Irregular pulse rate , heaviness of chest and arm are such symptoms which can not be discarded as unimportant only historically. This is especially true for a patient with history of blackouts.
Hope this clarifies the things.
Feel free to discuss further.
sincerely
sukhvinder

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar