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Warning-sign checks

Cardioversion: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    These concerns may need timely assessment but are not always emergencies.

    Seek emergency medical help for:

    • Signs of stroke, such as sudden facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, vision loss, or severe loss of balance
    • Fainting or new confusion
    • Severe or persistent chest pain
    • Serious difficulty breathing
    • Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding
    • A sustained rapid heartbeat accompanied by weakness, chest discomfort, or lightheadedness
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact the healthcare team promptly for a return of palpitations, increasing shortness of breath, unusual dizziness, medication side effects, or bleeding that does not seem normal.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Routine follow-up may include an ECG, review of symptoms, medication monitoring, and discussion of home pulse or rhythm readings.

    Blood tests may be needed for certain medicines.

    Follow-up also helps address sleep apnea, blood pressure, alcohol use, weight, thyroid disease, and other factors linked to rhythm recurrence.

The article also says

Mild tiredness, brief grogginess, and skin soreness can occur after electrical cardioversion.

Follow the discharge instructions for activity, driving, bathing, and skin care.

Avoid making important decisions while sedating medicine is still affecting you.

Take anticoagulants and rhythm medicines exactly as directed.

Missing blood-thinner doses around cardioversion may increase stroke risk.

Contact the prescribing team before stopping a medicine, including for a dental or surgical procedure.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Cardioversion. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.