Recognising when to seek expert cardiology assessment
An awareness of your own heartbeat — often described as fluttering, racing or skipped beats.
Stress, caffeine, hormonal changes, atrial or ventricular ectopics, SVT or atrial fibrillation.
Persistent, prolonged, or associated with breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness or syncope.
ECG, ambulatory Holter monitor, event recorder, echocardiogram.
Discomfort, pressure or tightness in the chest, sometimes radiating to arm or jaw.
Coronary artery disease, pericarditis, musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, reflux.
Always seek prompt assessment — particularly if associated with breathlessness, sweating, nausea or exertion.
ECG, troponin, exercise stress test, CT coronary angiogram.
Difficulty breathing at rest, on exertion or when lying flat.
Heart failure, valve disease, arrhythmias, pulmonary causes, deconditioning.
New or worsening breathlessness, particularly with leg swelling or palpitations.
Echocardiogram, ECG, BNP, lung function testing.
Lightheadedness, unsteadiness or pre-syncope.
Bradyarrhythmias, postural blood pressure changes, dehydration, vestibular causes.
Recurrent dizziness, especially on exertion or with palpitations.
ECG, Holter monitor, tilt table testing, echocardiogram.
Brief loss of consciousness with spontaneous recovery.
Reflex (vasovagal) syncope, orthostatic hypotension, arrhythmias, structural heart disease.
Any unexplained blackout deserves cardiac assessment, particularly without warning or on exertion.
ECG, echocardiogram, ambulatory monitoring, tilt table, implantable loop recorder.
A heartbeat that feels uneven, with extra or missed beats.
Atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, frequent ectopic beats.
Persistent irregularity or symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness or palpitations.
ECG, prolonged ambulatory monitoring, echocardiogram.
Heart rate persistently above 100 beats per minute at rest.
SVT, atrial fibrillation, sinus tachycardia, hyperthyroidism, anaemia.
Sudden onset episodes or persistent fast heart rate require assessment.
ECG, Holter, blood tests, echocardiogram.
Resting heart rate persistently below 50 beats per minute.
Sinus node disease, AV block, medications, athletic conditioning.
Symptoms of fatigue, dizziness, breathlessness or syncope.
ECG, Holter, exercise testing — pacemaker assessment when indicated.
Unexplained or disproportionate tiredness.
Arrhythmias, heart failure, valve disease, sleep apnoea, non-cardiac causes.
Persistent fatigue combined with cardiac symptoms.
Echocardiogram, ECG, blood tests, ambulatory monitoring.
Speak with Dr Creta for an expert assessment — usually within a few working days.
