Skip to content
WebMD: Better information. Better health.
 
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Medical Dictionary

Heart Disease Health Center

Font Size
A
A
A

Exams and Tests

A doctor can sometimes diagnose bradycardia by:

An EKG also helps determine what type of slow heart rate you have. This noninvasive test can also provide information about contributing factors, such as a recent heart attack or other underlying heart conditions.

Recommended Related to Heart Disease

Recognizing Heart Attack, Stroke, and Angina

Doctors call it the "Hollywood heart attack": a middle-aged man breaks into a cold sweat, grimaces, and clutches his chest-just like in the movies. Trouble is, in real life, heart attack symptoms don't always announce themselves so dramatically. More often they are insidious and puzzling, such as unexplained fatigue or abdominal discomfort, and many people wait for hours before seeking help. Big mistake, doctors tell WebMD. The ability to quickly spot signs of heart attack, angina, and stroke...

Read the Recognizing Heart Attack, Stroke, and Angina article > >

If your bradycardia comes and goes and is not recorded during the EKG that is done during your office visit, you may need ambulatory heart monitoring (Holter or cardiac event monitoring). This type of monitoring uses a portable EKG machine to record the electrical activity of your heart while you go about your daily routine.

To see if there are other conditions that may be causing your slow heart rate, you may have lab tests, such as a:

If you take a cardiac medicine called digoxin, you may have blood tests to see whether high levels of digoxin could be causing bradycardia.

If the cause of your symptoms is still not clear, you may need other testing. This may include:

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: June 18, 2009
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

Today in Heart Disease

cholesterol lab test report
Article
Compressed heart
Article
 
Heart Foods Slideshow
Slideshow
Compressed heart
Article
 
empty football helmet
Article
doctor looking at xrays
Video
 
eating blueberries
Article
Simple Steps to Lower Cholesterol
Slideshow
 
Inside A Heart Attack
SLIDESHOW
Omega 3 Sources
SLIDESHOW
 
Salt Shockers
SLIDESHOW
lowering blood pressure
SLIDESHOW