Major Symptoms Of Churg-Strauss Syndrome

Irregular Heartbeat

Some patients in the vasculitic stage of Churg-Strauss syndrome may develop an irregular heartbeat. This symptom is sometimes accompanied by chest pain or shortness of breath, and some patients may also feel dizzy. There are several different types of irregular heartbeat, and patients might experience these in different ways. For example, some irregular heartbeats can feel as though the heart is skipping a beat or fluttering, and other types may feel more like a pounding in the chest. To investigate an irregular heartbeat, a doctor will feel the patient's pulse at the wrist or neck, and they might also assess the pulses in other areas of the body. The doctor will then use a stethoscope to carefully listen to the patient's heart sounds. An electrocardiogram is typically the next step, and some patients might be asked to wear an event monitor or a Holter monitor to record the heart's activity for a few days. Echocardiograms (ultrasounds of the heart) and electrophysiology studies may also be useful in diagnosis. Irregular heartbeats can sometimes be controlled with medication, and electrical cardioversion, pacemakers, or implantable cardioverter defibrillators might be recommended if medication is ineffective.