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Evaluation of Palpitations

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Heart Failure

Part of the book series: Contemporary Cardiology ((CONCARD))

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Abstract

Disturbances in cardiac rhythm or rate are common in patients with heart failure. The symptom of palpitations can be defined as either forceful or rapid beating of the heart. This frequent complaint among patients may be associated with a variety of arrhythmias, including all forms of tachycardias (supraventricular and ventricular), ectopic beats, compensatory pauses, or alterations of cardiac outputs. The perception of “palpitations” is highly individualized and may not always suggest a diagnosis of tachycardia. In the case of premature contractions, the patient is usually more aware of the postextrasystole beat augmentation than the premature beat itself. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, for example, is often asymptomatic.

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Authors
  1. Henry H. Hsia MD, FACC
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Heart Failure/Transplant Program, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Mariell L. Jessup MD, FACC, FAHA

  2. University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Evan Loh MD, FACC, FAHA

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© 2003 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Hsia, H.H. (2003). Evaluation of Palpitations. In: Jessup, M.L., Loh, E. (eds) Heart Failure. Contemporary Cardiology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-347-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-347-7_6

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9759-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-347-7

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