1. Know Your Family's Medical History
Having a complete picture of your family's medical history, especially if your relatives have had heart problems, can be a great help if you suspect you may have an arrhythmia. While some kinds of arrhythmias--otherwise known as irregular heartbeats--can be temporary and non-life threatening, others may be much more serious. If you have a family history of heart problems, let your doctor know. This information may help him determine why your heart is beating abnormally.
2. Recognize the Physical Symptoms
Many people who have arrhythmias experience what they sometimes call "skipping a heartbeat." Your heart does not actually skip a beat, but its regular rhythm can be thrown off, causing it to beat sooner than it normally does. This phenomenon is called a premature heartbeat. If you have a lot of premature beats in a short period of time, you may feel a fluttery sensation in your chest. You may feel dizzy, unusually tired or lightheaded from an arrhythmia that is long-lasting and untreated. Shortness of breath and chest pain are also symptoms of an irregular heartbeat. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor to schedule an exam.
3. Use Technology to Make a Diagnosis
Your doctor will perform a series of tests to accurately diagnose your arrhythmia, the most common of which is an EKG or electrocardiogram. An EKG measures your heart's activity through electrodes that are attached to your body. By looking at the size of the waves that are recorded, as well as how much time elapses between each one, your doctor will be able to tell you if you have an arrhythmia. Your can wear a portable device called a holster monitor to record your heart activity for a longer period of time, if needed. Your doctor may also choose to use electrophysiologic testing as a diagnostic tool. This type of test causes arrhythmias to occur so the technician can see which part of the heart is producing the arrhythmia.
