Preparing for an appointment

Call your family or primary care doctor if you have symptoms of sick sinus syndrome. You might be referred to a doctor trained in diagnosing and treating heart conditions (cardiologist).

Be prepared to answer questions about your medical history and symptoms. Write down your answers to help you remember details.

Questions your doctor may ask about symptoms include:

• Do your symptoms include feeling lightheaded or dizzy?
• Have you ever fainted?
• Do you have rapid, fluttering or pounding heartbeats?
• Do you feel pressure, heaviness, tightness or pain in your chest?
• Does exercise or physical exertion worsen your symptoms?
• Does anything improve your symptoms?
• How often have you experienced symptoms?
• How long have the symptoms lasted?

Other questions may include the following:

• Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or a heart condition?
• What medications do you take and what dosage? Who is the prescribing doctor?
• Why were the prescription drugs prescribed?
• Have you been taking the medication as prescribed?
• Have you recently stopped, started or changed medications?
• What over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies or supplements do you take?

Write down any questions you have for your doctor. You might bring a companion to write down information during the appointment.

What you can do in the meantime

If exercise makes your symptoms worse, avoid exercise until your doctor has seen you.