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Diagnosis of sinus arrhythmia
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Arrhythmias are common in adolescents during puberty, patients who have had infectious diseases, patients with neurocirculatory dystonia, neuroses, and those suffering from heart disease. Symptoms of such pathology include tachycardia, chest pain, a feeling of the heart "stopping", shortness of breath, and many others.
Diagnosis of sinus arrhythmia is necessary to determine the causes of its occurrence. What is sinus arrhythmia? It is an uneven and inconstant distribution of impulses in the node, which results in an increase or decrease in heart rate. Such pathology can be provoked by instability of the vagus nerve or uneven filling of the myocardium with blood during exhalation and inhalation.
To identify the main cause of the development of pathology, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor. The research methods will depend on the patient's age, condition, symptoms. Of course, the main task will be to examine the heart using ECG and other methods to determine possible diseases.
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Tests for sinus arrhythmia
Diagnosis of sinus arrhythmia involves taking certain tests to determine the nature of the pathology. If necessary, the patient may be prescribed a full medical examination of the body.
The most commonly used methods are:
- electrocardiogram;
- electrophysiological study (EPS);
- echocardiogram;
- monitoring (episodic, Holter);
- load test;
- Orthostatic test.
Tests for sinus arrhythmia will help to identify violations of the sinus node automatism and prevent the possible development of heart disease (if the causes are hidden in organic pathologies). Depending on the manifestation of arrhythmia, the doctor will select the necessary diagnostic methods. With the help of ultrasound, it becomes possible to determine the state of various myocardial structures and measure the size of the chambers. Invasive electrophysiological research allows you to evaluate the reaction of the node when it is stimulated or suppressed. ECHO-CG will reveal organic changes in the structures of the heart muscle.
Laboratory tests can help rule out pharmacological and pathological sinus tachycardia. For this purpose, screening tests such as a complete blood count and detection of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 are used.
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Instrumental diagnostics of sinus arrhythmia
Diagnosis of sinus arrhythmia comes down to determining disturbances in the functioning of the heart and identifying possible pathologies (including organic ones) that require effective treatment.
Instrumental diagnostics of sinus arrhythmia involves the use of the following methods (non-invasive):
- ECG;
- physical exercise tests;
- High-resolution ECG to examine late ventricular potentials;
- Holter monitoring (24-hour ECG recording);
- identification of baroreceptor sensitivity;
- study of T wave alterations;
- determination of heart rate variability;
- determination of QT interval dispersion.
Invasive diagnostic methods include: EFI - intracardiac electrophysiological study, tilt test and TEEFI - transesophageal electrophysiological study. The data obtained as a result of instrumental diagnostic methods will allow the cardiologist to determine the optimal treatment regimen for sinus arrhythmia.
Auxiliary tests include:
- step tests,
- cold test,
- sit-stand test,
- tests with dipyridomole, isoproterenol, ergometrine, potassium chloride,
- marching and 20 squats test,
- psycho-emotional tests, etc.
Arrhythmias of functional origin usually disappear when certain diagnostic methods are used (for example, using a photostimulator), while those of organic origin remain.
ECG for sinus arrhythmia
Diagnosis of sinus arrhythmia is an important measure aimed at determining the causes of heart rhythm disturbances. A cardiologist will prescribe research methods that will help identify pathologies (functional or organic) of the cardiovascular system.
ECG in sinus arrhythmia is the primary method for diagnosing rhythm disturbances of various origins. It should be noted that this method provides correct information only at the moment when an attack of arrhythmia is observed. In addition to taking into account the patient's complaints, additional special tests are carried out.
The daily monitoring method gives the most accurate picture of myocardial function, since a special sensor records an electrocardiogram during the day. With the help of ECG, it is possible to obtain data on the heart function, its condition, information on past illnesses, and determine the presence of ischemic pathological areas.
A characteristic electrocardiographic sign of sinus arrhythmia is the shortening of special R-R intervals on the ECG when the heart rate increases and their lengthening when the heart rate slows down. Decoding the cardiogram allows you to get a complete picture of the heart's condition and helps the cardiologist in choosing the right treatment methods.
Differential diagnosis of sinus arrhythmia
Diagnosis of sinus arrhythmia should be carried out in a timely manner, since many diseases are “masked” as heart rhythm disturbances.
Differential diagnostics of sinus arrhythmia is to recognize acute myocardial infarction against the background of paroxysmal tachycardia in time. Vague pain in the chest and behind the sternum, shortness of breath, heart "stopping" - these symptoms often accompany an attack of a heart attack. Therefore, the doctor prescribes an ECG for rhythm disturbances and the above symptoms. When the heart rate increases to more than 200 per minute, ventricular fibrillation is observed, which requires immediate treatment. Fortunately, modern diagnostic methods allow us to register any disturbances in the rhythmic activity of the heart.
If the patient is bothered by a rapid pulse at rest, a feeling of general weakness, pre-syncope conditions against the background of an irregular pulse, dizziness attacks, a decrease in pulse to 48 beats/min. and less, then there is reason to believe that serious disturbances in the functioning of the heart are occurring. Timely diagnosis is necessary to exclude severe types of arrhythmia and various cardiac diseases. Subjective sensations of those suffering from arrhythmia are varied and inconsistent. Some patients do not note any sensations at all, others complain of fluctuations in heart rhythms, i.e. increased heart rate and its "fading". Differential diagnosis of arrhythmia is justified by electrocardiography as an initial method for identifying pathologies.