Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of palpitations (heart palpitations).
Family history
- Is there a history of frequent heart disease in your family?
- Has there been a case of sudden cardiac death or hereditary heart disease* * in your family?
Social history
- Is there evidence of psychosocial stress (e.g., stress at work) or stress due to your family situation?
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- When did the palpitations occur?
- After febrile infections?
- After poor sleep?
- After stress at work?
- Under physical stress* /* * ?
- How long did these last?
- Do they occur on a regular basis? If so, in what situations?
- Do any additional complaints occur during these phases?
- Persistent shortness of breath* ?
- Chest pain* ?
- Dizziness* ?
- How do you respond to the discomfort?
- Do you ignore them?
- Do you lie down?
- Do you faint* /* * while doing so?
- Are there any actions/maneuvers you can take to stop the discomfort? For example:
- By coughing?
- Holding your breath?
- Exhale while holding your nose and mouth shut and tensing your abdominal muscles (Valsalva maneuver)?
Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.
- Do you like to drink coffee, black or 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 eat dark chocolate? If yes, how much of it?
- Do you drink alcohol? If so, 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?
- How well are you able to bear weight? How many flights of stairs can you climb without shortness of breath?
Self anamnesis incl. medication anamnesis
- Pre-existing conditions (heart disease)
- Operations
- Allergies
- Pregnancies
Medication history
- Alpha blockers (doxazosin, yohimbine).
- Analgesics
- Coxiebe (celecoxib, parecoxib)
- Antiarrhythmics
- Ic antiarrhythmics (flecainide, propafenone).
- Class II antiarrhythmics (esmolol, metoprolol).
- Other antiarrhythmic drugs (adenosine).
- Antibiotics (erythromycin, moxifloxacin).
- Anticholinergics (atropine)
- Antihypertensives (dihydralazine, hydralazine).
- Antivertiginosa (betahistine)
- Antiviral drugs (foscarnet, ganciclovir).
- Α-adrenoceptor agonist (midodrine).
- Beta-blockers may cause palpitations after rapid discontinuation
- Calcium antagonists
- Hormones
- Thyroid hormones (thyroxine)
- Hypnotics/sedatives (clomethiazole).
- Caffeine
- Methylxanthine (theophylline)
- Muscle relaxants (baclofen, tizanidine).
- Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadafil, vardenafil).
- Sympathomimetics (epinephrine, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline).
- Vasodilators (nitrates)
- Cytoreductive drugs (anagrelide).
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Data without guarantee)* * For urgent hospitalization is advised!
