Understanding
advanced heart risk.
Understand heart rhythm assessment and how it differs from cardiovascular blood markers.
Call 999 if a fast or irregular heartbeat occurs with chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting.
What you need to know.
An arrhythmia is a change in the heart’s rhythm. Examples include atrial fibrillation and episodes of a fast or slow heartbeat. A clinical assessment looks at your symptoms and heart rhythm, and may involve an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Signs & symptoms
- A racing, fluttering or irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness or feeling faint
- Unusual breathlessness
- Some rhythm problems cause no noticeable symptoms
Factors to discuss
- Other heart conditions
- High blood pressure
- Thyroid problems
- Symptoms may occur without an obvious trigger
What testing can tell you.
An ECG records electrical activity in the heart. Performance & Longevity adds ApoB and hs-CRP to the core blood panel, but these are cardiovascular biomarkers, not heart rhythm tests. An ECG is not listed in the five current packages.
Blood test results cannot diagnose or rule out an arrhythmia. Contact the team to ask about assessment availability, or speak to your GP if you have recurring palpitations.
Your next step
If you have symptoms or a specific health concern, speak to your GP. If you’re choosing a routine health screen, review the package’s included tests or ask our team for help.
Further reading: NHS information on this topic