This space is also known as the QT interval.
It will also cover risk factors and screening options.
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What Does Long QT Syndrome Feel Like?
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Long QT syndrome may have no symptoms.
Inherited Long QT Syndrome
Inheritedlong QT syndrome is diagnosed in people who were born with the condition.
Women are more likely than men to develop acquired long QT syndrome.
If a medication or condition is identified as the cause, stopping or correcting it may fix the symptoms.
Terms
In this article, the terms for sex or gender from the sources cited are used.
These generally relate to anatomical or chromosomal characteristics at birth.
Verywell recognizes that people may have a gender identity that differs from the source’s use of the terms.
What Are the Symptoms of Long QT Syndrome?
Symptoms of long QT syndrome can be brought on by exercise, emotional distress, or when sleeping.
The symptoms tend to start during childhood and rarely start after the age of 40.
These people may learn they have the condition only after being evaluated for other conditions.
It is fatal unless treatment is received immediately.
What Causes Long QT Syndrome?
This is part of how the heart creates electrical activity.
Genetic testinglooks atgenetic markersthat can show long QT syndrome.
How Is Long QT Syndrome Diagnosed?
Long QT syndrome is diagnosed using several diagnostic tools.
They include:
How Is Long QT Syndrome Treated?
Long QT syndrome is treated using a combination of several therapies.
Beta-blockersare a class of medications that prevent the heart from beating too fast.
They are a mainstay treatment in people with long QT syndrome.
They may also suggest eating foods high in potassium.
How Does Long QT Syndrome Affect Life Expectancy?
Long QT syndrome is typically a condition that someone has to live with for the rest of their life.
When left untreated, the risk of sudden cardiac death is high.
A 2017 study looked at 166 people diagnosed with long QT syndrome.
If the symptoms includedifficulty breathing,seizures, or chest pain, call 911 immediately.
The instructions will clarify what to do if they feel new symptoms or prolonged symptoms.
Summary
Long QT syndrome is a medical condition brought on by abnormal electrical conduction through the heart.
This abnormal conduction can go undetected for years or can cause serious symptoms, including a fatal heart arrhythmia.
Treatment options include medications and implanted heart devices.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Long QT syndrome.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Long QT syndrome (LQTS).
Stanford Medicine.Types of long QT syndrome.
Wilde AAM, Amin AS, Postema PG.Diagnosis, management and therapeutic strategies for congenital long QT syndrome.Heart.
2022;108(5):332-338. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2020-318259
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Long QT syndrome.
2017;70(4):453-462. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.046
