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Hi, I Have Had Palpitations For 7 Days Now...There Very
Question: hi, I have had palpitations for 7 days now...There very frequent, I'm getting between 8 and 20 of them every minute...They are not going away...should I go to hospital because I'm afraid if they carry on my heart will stop...Its not normal..thanks
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on Ask a Doctor service!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms are suggestive of cardiac arrhythmia.
For this reason, it is important performing a resting ECG and some blood lab tests (complete blood count for anemia, thyroid hormone levels for thyroid gland dysfuntion, blood electrolytes for possible imbalance).
As these palpitations are quite frequent it is very probable that they will be registered on a resting ECG.
Anyway, another test which would help examine your heart rhythm trend for a prolonged time and investigate for possible cardiac arrhythmia would be a 24-48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter).
A cardiac ultrasound may be needed if cardiac arrhythmia is confirmed.
In the meantime, I would recommend avoiding coffee intake and taking plenty of fluids in order to avoid dehydration, which can trigger this clinical situation.
If these tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as a possible cause underlying your complaints.
It is important contacting with your attending physician on the above tests. It is not safe to go to the ER, as there is risk for corona virus infection during this period of time. Besides, it is a week that you have these symptoms, which means that the situation is not an emergency.
Hope to have been helpful!
Please don't hesitate to ask me again whenever you need!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on Ask a Doctor service!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms are suggestive of cardiac arrhythmia.
For this reason, it is important performing a resting ECG and some blood lab tests (complete blood count for anemia, thyroid hormone levels for thyroid gland dysfuntion, blood electrolytes for possible imbalance).
As these palpitations are quite frequent it is very probable that they will be registered on a resting ECG.
Anyway, another test which would help examine your heart rhythm trend for a prolonged time and investigate for possible cardiac arrhythmia would be a 24-48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter).
A cardiac ultrasound may be needed if cardiac arrhythmia is confirmed.
In the meantime, I would recommend avoiding coffee intake and taking plenty of fluids in order to avoid dehydration, which can trigger this clinical situation.
If these tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as a possible cause underlying your complaints.
It is important contacting with your attending physician on the above tests. It is not safe to go to the ER, as there is risk for corona virus infection during this period of time. Besides, it is a week that you have these symptoms, which means that the situation is not an emergency.
Hope to have been helpful!
Please don't hesitate to ask me again whenever you need!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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