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Conduction Disorders - Diagnosis - Diagnosis

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To diagnose a conduction disorder, your doctor will ask about your medical history, any signs and symptoms, and your family\u2019s medical history, and he or she will perform a physical exam. Your doctor may also recommend tests to look at your heart\u2019s electrical activity and structure and to determine if you have genetic changes that may signal a conduction disorder.

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\n Medical history \n
- Conduction Disorders - Diagnosis

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Your doctor may ask questions about your personal medical history using questions such as the following:

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  • Do you experience heart palpitations?
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  • Do you experience unusual shortness of breath or fatigue with exercise?
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  • Do you have high blood pressure?
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  • Do you have symptoms of sleep apnea?
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  • Have you ever fainted or almost fainted without a known reason?
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  • Have you experienced chest pain or discomfort with exertion or exercise?
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  • What medicines are you taking?
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Your doctor may ask about your family\u2019s medical history, including:

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  • Complications from heart disease in a close relative
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  • Premature death of a relative, either sudden or unexpected
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  • Specific knowledge of heart conditions in family members
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\n Physical exam \n
- Conduction Disorders - Diagnosis

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As part of your physical exam, your doctor may listen to your heart, record your heart rate, and measure your blood pressure.

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\n Diagnostic tests and procedures \n
- Conduction Disorders - Diagnosis

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To diagnose a conduction disorder, your doctor may order an EKG, which records your heart\u2019s electrical activity. Each conduction disorder has a specific pattern that can be seen on an EKG.

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If the diagnosis is unclear from the EKG or your doctor would like more information, your doctor may order additional tests, such as one or more of the following:

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  • Blood tests to look for potentially reversible causes, including high or low blood electrolyte levels or endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism, or to check medicine levels.
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  • Holter or event monitor to record your heart\u2019s electrical activity over long periods of time while you do your normal activities.
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  • Implantable loop recorder to look at the heart\u2019s electrical activity over a longer period of time or to find a diagnosis if earlier tests do not rule out a conduction disorder. The recorder can transmit data to the doctor\u2019s office to help with monitoring. An implantable loop recorder helps doctors figure out why a person may be having palpitations or fainting spells, especially if these symptoms do not happen very often.
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  • Stress test to look at changes in your heart\u2019s activity that occur with an increase in heart rate and during recovery after exercise.
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  • Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other types of imaging to look at the heart\u2019s structure.
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  • Echocardiography to look at the heart\u2019s structure and how well it is working.
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  • Electrophysiology study (EPS) to look at the electrical activity of the heart and to find the source of an abnormal heartbeat. The study uses a wire to stimulate your heart electrically. The information from an EPS may help guide treatment.
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  • Genetic testing to confirm a genetic diagnosis, as in some ion channel disorders. If you have certain gene known to be risk factors for a conduction disorder, your doctor may also recommend testing other family members.
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If a conduction disorder is diagnosed while you are asleep, your doctor may also request a test to find out if you have sleep apnea, which is a common complication.

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\n Reminders \n
- Conduction Disorders - Diagnosis

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  • Return to Risk Factors to review family history, medicines, or other medical conditions that increase your risk of developing a conduction disorder.
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  • Return to Signs, Symptoms, and Complications to review common signs and symptoms of conduction disorders.
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  • Return to Screening and Prevention to review how to screen for conduction disorders.
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Syndicated Content Details:
Source URL: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/subscribe/4314
Source Agency: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Captured Date: 2019-08-08 15:03:00.0
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