> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sonohealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Heart Symptoms: When to Monitor at Home and When to Call 911

> A practical triage guide for heart symptoms — which can be tracked with a home EKG and which are emergencies. Learn the warning signs that mean call 911 now.

Home heart monitors are useful for tracking patterns over time, but some symptoms need emergency care immediately. This guide helps you tell the difference — though when in doubt, always err toward seeking help.

<Warning>
  Call 911 now for chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck, or back, sudden severe shortness of breath, fainting or near-fainting, a cold sweat with nausea, or signs of stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech). These are emergencies — do not stop to take a reading.
</Warning>

## Which symptoms are emergencies?

Treat these as call-911 situations: crushing or persistent **chest pain**, **fainting**, a very fast heartbeat with **dizziness or breathlessness**, or any **stroke warning signs**. A home [EKG](/ekg/overview) or [pulse oximeter](/pulse-oximeter/overview) reading should never delay calling for help in these cases.

## Which symptoms are reasonable to monitor at home?

Occasional, brief **palpitations** when you feel otherwise well, awareness of a skipped beat, or a mildly fast pulse after caffeine or stress are commonly tracked at home and discussed at a routine visit. Capturing a tracing during an episode — see [heart palpitations](/ekg/heart-palpitations) — gives your doctor useful information.

## What should prompt a (non-urgent) doctor visit?

Schedule an appointment for: palpitations that are becoming more frequent or longer, repeated [irregular-heartbeat](/blood-pressure/irregular-heartbeat-detection) flags, a consistently high or low resting heart rate, or symptoms that interfere with daily life. Bring your home recordings and any [blood pressure](/blood-pressure/overview) logs.

## How can home devices support my care?

Personal monitors shine at documentation — they capture data between appointments that you'd otherwise forget or miss entirely. A home EKG records rhythm tracings, a blood pressure monitor tracks trends, and a pulse oximeter shows oxygen levels. Share these with your clinician to inform decisions; they are screening and tracking tools, not diagnostic substitutes.

## What about anxiety-related symptoms?

Anxiety and panic can cause a racing heart, palpitations, and breathlessness that feel identical to heart problems. Because the two can be hard to tell apart, have new or unexplained symptoms evaluated rather than assuming it's "just anxiety." A clinician can help sort it out.

<Note>
  This page is general guidance, not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are unsure whether a symptom is serious, treat it as serious and seek care.
</Note>

**Related:** [EKG Overview](/ekg/overview) · [Heart Attack vs Arrhythmia](/ekg/heart-attack-vs-arrhythmia) · [Normal Heart Rate & Rhythm](/ekg/normal-heart-rate-rhythm)