dr9ohm · Heart Symptom Signal Check

Heart Symptom Signal Check
Palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness — does it fit me, and how urgent is it?

Quick answer (BLUF): A 0–15 score for how dense palpitations, chest discomfort, breathlessness, and near-fainting are, to sort self-care vs a routine visit vs a cardiologist within days. Not a diagnosis and not a substitute for an ECG. Chest pressure over 10–15 minutes or fainting: call emergency services now.
5 core items (0–3) + 5 profile + 6 urgent items (not in the 15) — not a diagnosis
How to answer
Symptoms: 0/1/2/3 · Other: Yes/No. Any urgent Yes → call emergency services (Thailand 1669) now, even if the score is low.
2021 AHA/ACC chest pain guideline (Gulati, PMID 34709879) · EHRA palpitations position paper (Raviele 2011, PMID 21697315) · 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS ventricular arrhythmia guideline (PMID 29084731) · Swap & Nagurney, JAMA 2005 (PMID 16304077) · NHLBI — Heart attack symptoms · MedlinePlus — Heart palpitations ·

Symptom score (Raw Score)
0 / 15
Symptoms answered 0/5 · Profile 0/5 · Urgent 0/6

Part 1 — Core symptoms (scored)

Q1: Palpitations / skipped or racing beats
In the past 2–4 weeks, how often and how long did palpitations, skipped beats, or a racing heart occur?



Q2: Chest discomfort pattern
Which pattern best matches your chest pain or pressure?



Q3: Breathlessness / cannot lie flat / leg swelling
How are your breathlessness and exercise tolerance now?



Q4: Light-headedness / near-fainting
How are dizziness, light-headedness, or near-fainting?



Q5: Impact on daily life and worry
How much do heart symptoms disrupt work, exercise, sleep, or cause worry?



Part 2 — Risk profile (not in the 15)

1. Regular strong coffee, energy drinks, alcohol, stimulant decongestants or diet pills, or under 6 hours of sleep

2. Known heart disease, e.g. coronary disease, prior stent or bypass surgery, heart failure, valve disease, or an arrhythmia

3. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, or a parent/sibling with early coronary disease (men under 55, women under 65)

4. Currently smoking or vaping

5. Symptoms started within a few weeks of a cold, COVID, or another viral illness

Part 3 — Urgent symptoms (not in the 15)

Any Yes → call emergency services now, even with a low score.

1. Chest pain, pressure, or squeezing lasting over 10–15 minutes or at rest, spreading to the arm, jaw, or back, with sweating, nausea, or breathlessness

2. Fainting or near-fainting, especially with palpitations or during exercise

3. A racing heartbeat that will not stop on its own, or comes with light-headedness, chest pain, or breathlessness

4. Sudden severe breathlessness, or unable to lie flat because you cannot breathe

5. Face droop, one-sided arm or leg weakness, speech trouble, or sudden vision loss (possible stroke)

6. A parent or sibling died suddenly before age 50, and you now have palpitations, fainting, or chest pain

0 points
Start the heart symptom signal check

When complete, the score updates immediately — a high score is not a diagnosis

Important notes (Red Flags)

Chest pressure over 10–15 minutes or at rest spreading to the arm, jaw, or back with sweating · fainting or near-fainting with palpitations or exercise · a racing heartbeat that will not stop · breathlessness so severe you cannot lie flat · face droop, arm weakness, or speech trouble → call emergency services now (Thailand 1669) and do not drive yourself. This check does not replace emergency care.

What a 0–15 score means

Heart-signal urgency bands — not a diagnosis and not a substitute for an ECG

ScoreBandMeaningWhat not to do
0–4Green — self-careCut strong caffeine, energy drinks, and alcohol; sleep enough; keep a symptom diary with your pulseDo not skip urgent items — a low score does not rule out heart disease
5–7Yellow — routine visitBook a GP or cardiology visit and match the monitor to frequency: daily → 24–48 h Holter · weekly → 7–14 day patch or event monitor · rare → loop recorderDo not stop heart or blood-pressure medicines on your own
8–10Orange — cardiologist within daysEspecially exertional symptoms, breathlessness at rest for days, symptoms after a viral illness, or daily palpitationsDo not do strenuous exercise until assessed
11–15Red — get evaluated todayIf symptoms are active or any urgent item is Yes, call emergency services (Thailand 1669)Do not drive yourself to hospital

Frequently asked questions

Can this check tell me whether I have heart disease?

No. It measures symptom density and urgency to help answer whether the pattern deserves testing and how soon. Diagnosis needs an ECG, tests, and a clinician.

I have chest pain right now. Should I finish the check first?

No. If chest pressure lasts over 10–15 minutes or spreads to the arm, jaw, or back with sweating or nausea, call emergency services now and do not drive yourself.

My ECG was normal but palpitations continue. Why can the score still be high?

A 12-lead ECG records about 10 seconds, so intermittent rhythm problems may not appear. Clinicians may choose a Holter, patch, event monitor, or loop recorder based on how often symptoms occur.

My total is low, but I get chest pressure on exertion or nearly faint. What does that mean?

Exertional chest symptoms and near-fainting are not cancelled by a low total. See a cardiologist within days and avoid strenuous exercise until assessed.

I have had bypass surgery or a stent. Can I use this check?

Yes, as a way to log symptoms for your heart team. With known heart disease, recurrent angina-like pain, worsening breathlessness, or new leg swelling should prompt earlier contact with your care team.

How is this different from the mental-health or GERD score?

This layer focuses on heart signals. If heart tests were normal and panic or mid-chest burning dominates, you can take that layer score too, but do not use acid reducers or anxiety medicines instead of a heart evaluation.

Medical Disclaimer: For general education only — not personalized medical advice. Not a heart-disease diagnosis, not a substitute for an ECG or Holter, and not a prescription.
Seek care immediately for dangerous signals ·
· Thai twin: https://dr9ohm.com/heart-symptom-urgency-score/