Long Qt Syndrome
Symptoms of long QT syndrome
Source: NHS
In this topic (8)
There are usually no physical signs of long QT syndrome, and some people don't experience any symptoms.
The most common symptoms are blackouts or seizures caused by the interruptions to the heart's rhythm.
Some people with long QT syndrome find that their heart sometimes suddenly beats in an abnormally fast, uncontrollable way. This type of arrhythmia is called"torsade de pointes".
When this happens, the heart can't pump blood properly and the brain is temporarily starved of oxygen, causing the person to temporarily pass out. The heart's rhythm usually returns to normal within a minute or so and the person regains consciousness.
These episodes can start at any age and may be triggered by:
- stress
- a sudden noise such as an alarm bell
- strenuous exercise particularly swimming
- a slow heart rate during sleep
However, there isn't always a trigger.
Sometimes, the abnormal heart rhythm persists, leading to ventricular fibrillation (a rapid, uncoordinated series of contractions). This rarely reverts to normal without medication and, if it isn't electrically corrected, usually causes the heart to stop pumping (cardiac arrest) and death.
Dial 999 to request an ambulance if someone with long QT syndrome suddenly collapses. Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until medical help arrives.
Long QT syndrome is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young, otherwise healthy people, and is often thought to be an underlying cause of sudden infant death syndrome(SIDS) .
Articles for Long Qt Syndrome
Diagnosing long QT syndrome
Ifyour GPthinks you havelong QT syndrome after assessing your symptoms, they may recommend that you have an ECG and refer you to a heart specialist (cardiologist). In particular, if blackouts have oc
Information about you
If you have long QT syndrome, your clinical team may pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scientists look for
Introduction
Long QT syndrome causes problems with the electrical activity of the heart. It's uncommon, occurring in around 1 in every 2,000 people.
Living with long QT syndrome
With appropriate treatment, such as medication or surgery, it should be possible to lead a relatively normal lifestyle. However, you may need to make some lifestyle adjustments to reduce your risk of
Symptoms of long QT syndrome
There are usually no physical signs of long QT syndrome, and some people don't experience any symptoms. The most common symptoms are blackouts or seizures caused by the interruptions to the heart's r
Treating long QT syndrome
Most people with inherited long QT syndrome will need treatment with medicines. Beta-blockers , such aspropranololornadolol, may be prescribed to help control irregular heartbeats and slow down your
What causes long QT syndrome?
To understand the underlying cause of long QT syndrome, it's important to know how the heart cells work. On the surface of each heart muscle cell are tiny pores, or ion channels. These open and close
What does 'long QT' mean?
Every time your heart beats, it produces tiny electrical signals. An electrocardiogram (ECG) machine traces these signals on paper a typical pattern is shown below. As the graphshows, each heart
