Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of sinus tachycardia. Family history
- Do you have relatives who suffer from palpitations or other cardiac arrhythmias?
Social history
- Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to your family situation?
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- When did the palpitations first occur?
- When did the palpitations last occur?
- How often does the palpitations occur (daily, weekly, monthly)?
- How does the palpitations start?
- Suddenly?
- Gradually?
- In what situations does the palpitations occur?
- Exciting situations/when exerting yourself (e.g., climbing stairs)?
- Prolonged time after excitement or physical exertion?
- During sleep
- How many times does the heart beat per minute during racing?
- Does the pulse beat regularly or irregularly during heart racing?
- How long does the palpitations last?
- How does the palpitations end?
- Suddenly?
- Gradually?
- What symptoms do you notice during heart racing?
- Dizziness? *
- Shortness of breath? *
- Unconsciousness or impending unconsciousness? *
- What symptoms do you notice after your heart starts racing?
- Urinary urgency?
- Increased urination?
- Can you stop the palpitations yourself by maneuvers or tricks? If yes, then please indicate by which?
Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.
- 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, hyperthyroidism).
- Operations
- Allergies
Medication history
- Adrenergics (epinephrine, dipivefrin).
- Alpha-sympatholytics (phenoxybenzamine).
- Alpha-sympathomimetics (alfuzosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin, terazosin).
- Anesthetics (esketamine)
- Analgesics
- Coxibe (celecoxib, parecoxib)
- Antiarrhythmics
- Class 1a antiarrhythmics (quinidine).
- Class III antiarrhythmics (sotalol).
- Antihistamines (azelastine, cetirizine, clemastine, desloratardine, dimetindene, loratardine, terfenadine).
- Antimalarials (quinine).
- Antipsychotics (neuroleptics) – clozapine/ esp. in elderly patients, haloperidol.
- Betamimetics (synonyms: β2-sympathomimetics, also β2-adrenoceptor agonists) – fenoterol, formoterol, hexoprenaline, ritodrine, salbutamol, salmeterol, terbutaline [in mother and child].
- Calcium antagonists (calcium channel blockers).
- Dihydropyridines (nifedipine type) – amlodipine, felodipine, isradipine, lercandipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, nitrendipine).
- Calcium sensitizer (levosimendan).
- Hormones
- Catecholamines (epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine, dobutamine, norepinephrine).
- Prostaglandin E1 (alprostadil)
- Thyroid hormones (L-thyroxine (T4))
- Methylxanthines (theophylline)
- Muscle relaxants (tizanidine)
- Nitrates (glycerol trinitrate, isosorbide dinitrate, nitroprusside sodium).
- Parasympathetic drugs (atropine, ipratropium bromide, methanthelinium bromide).
- Psychotropic substances such as modafinil.
- Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil).
- Rheologics (pentoxifylline).
- X-ray contrast agent (as an immediate response).
- Spasmolytics (butylscopolamine)
- Sympathomimetics
- Etilefrine, metaraminol, norephedrine, norepinephrine, oxilofrine.
- Β-Adrenoceptor agonist (isoprenaline/isoproterenol.
- SS1-/ß2-sympathomimetics (orciprenaline)
- Β2-sympathomimetics (clenbuterol)
- Indirect sympathomimetics (amphetamine, methylphenidate).
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (vandetanib) [QTc time; ventricular tachycardia]
- Tocolytics (fenoterol)
- Vasodilators (diazoxide)
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Information without guarantee)
