Example of reassurance after baseline investigations
| Presentation A 34-year-old woman was pregnant for the first time. She had no significant medical history and took no regular medications. When she was having her blood pressure measured at her 25-week midwifery visit, she had a resting heart rate of 110 beats per minute (bpm). She did not have any symptoms such as chest pain or breathlessness. Her exercise tolerance was good and she walked her dog for five miles per day. Her observations revealed a resting heart rate of 110 bpm, blood pressure of 115/75 mmHg, respiratory rate of 15 breaths per minute and oxygen saturations of 100% on room air. She was afebrile. 12-lead electrocardiography revealed sinus tachycardia (110 bpm) and blood results were haemoglobin of 112 g/L and thyroid stimulating hormone of 1.67 mU/L. Recommended course of action All the above is reassuring and further investigation unlikely to yield any positive results. No follow-up required. Outcome Physiological sinus tachycardia. Reassurance should be provided and the patient can be encouraged to exercise (within own limitations). |