This checklist has been designed to help you determine whether you have a heart rhythm problem. If you have more than one of the symptoms below, see your GP.
- Have you fainted or passed out during exercise, while emotional or when startled?
- Have you ever fainted or passed out after exercise?
- Have you ever had extreme shortness of breath during exercise?
- Have you ever had extreme fatigue associated with exercise (much more so than others of your age and level of fitness)?
- Have you ever had discomfort, pain or pressure in your chest during exercise?
- Has a doctor ever ordered a test for your heart?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with an unexplained seizure or fit?
- Have you been diagnosed with epilepsy that fails to respond to medication?
- Have you ever had exercise-induced asthma that medication didn't control well?
- Are there any family members who had a sudden, unexpected, unexplained death before age 50 (including cot death, car accident or drowning)?
- Are there any family members who died suddenly of heart problems before they were 50?
- Are there any family members who have had unexplained fainting or seizures?
Do you have any relatives with the following conditions:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: thickening of the heart muscles.
- Long QT syndrome: a condition that results in a very fast, abnormal heart rhythm, which can cause fainting.
- Short QT syndrome: a congenital abnormality in the electrical activity within the muscle cells of the heart.
- Brugada syndrome: a rare genetic condition that causes the heart to beat so fast that it can affect blood circulation.
- Marfan syndrome: a genetic condition that affects the body's connective tissues.
- Heart attack at age 50 or younger.
- Pacemaker or implanted defibrillator.
Source: Arrhythmia Alliance
