Medical history (history) is an important component in the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF).
Family History
- Do you have relatives who suffer from cardiac arrhythmias?
Social history
- Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to your family situation?
- Do you have a job that exposes you to noise pollution?
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Please describe your complaints:
- Irregular and usually too fast pulse (pulse over 100 beats per minute)* ?
- Irregular and too slow pulse (pulse below 60 beats per minute)* ?
- Palpitations (sensation of feeling the heartbeat; heart stuttering)?
- What symptoms do you notice?
- Dizziness?*
- Loss or threat of unconsciousness?*
- Respiratory distress?*
- Chest pain (heart pain)?*
- Reduced resilience, fatigue
- How often do the symptoms occur and how long do they persist? (daily, weekly, monthly)?
- In what situations do the symptoms occur?
- After alcohol consumption?
- After drug use?
- After physical overload?
- After stress?
- Do you suffer from sleep deprivation (insomnia / sleep disorder) or have poor sleep?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Are you overweight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
- Do you eat a balanced diet?
- Do you get enough exercise every day?
- Do you like to drink coffee, black and green tea? If so, how many cups per day?
- Do you drink other or additional caffeinated beverages? If so, how much of each?
- Do you smoke? If yes, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, sleep disorders).
- Operations
- Allergies
Medication history
- Antiepileptic drugs
- Functionalized amino acid (lacosamide).
- Β2-sympathomimetic (e.g., salbutamol).
- COX-2 inhibitor (synonym: COX-2 inhibitor).
- Glucocorticoids
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID; non steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs) [excl. acetylsalicylic acid].
- Thyroid hormone therapy (L-thyroxine (levothyroxine)) (more common in VHF patients compared with the overall population)
Environmental history
- Noise
- Low temperatures
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Data without guarantee)
