What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Long QT Syndrome?
If you have long QT syndrome (LQTS), you’re prone to developing a sudden and dangerous arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat). Signs and symptoms of LQTS-related arrhythmias often first appear during childhood and include: • Unexplained fainting. This happens because your heart isn’t pumping enough blood to your brain. Fainting may occur when you’re under physical or emotional stress. Some people will have fluttering feelings in their chests before they faint. • Unexplained seizures. Those around you may mistake your fainting from LQTS as a seizure due to epilepsy. In children, fainting may be seen as a hysterical reaction to a stressful situation. • Unexplained drowning or near drowning. This may be due to fainting while swimming. • Unexplained sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) or death. This means that your heart suddenly stops beating for no obvious reason. People who have SCA will die within minutes unless they receive treatment. Most people who have SCA die. In about 1 out of 10 patients, SCA
