Trigger | Patient group | Test |
Alcohol | Patients reporting alcohol use, physical examination signs of alcohol use | Alcohol screen, urine toxicology |
Caffeine (eg, coffee or tea intake) | Patients reporting caffeine use | |
Recreational/stimulating drugs | Patients in whom stimulant drug use is suspected | Drug screen (eg, for cocaine, amphetamines) |
Electrolyte abnormalities (eg, potassium or magnesium) | Patients with suspected metabolic derangements (eg, vomiting, diarrhea, diuretic use, etc) | Serum electrolytes |
Hypoxia | Patients with COPD or other chronic lung disease | Pulse oximetry, arterial blood gas |
Uncontrolled hypertension | Patients with a history of hypertension or risk factors for hypertension | Blood pressure measurement |
Hyper/hypothyroidism | Patients with symptoms/signs of hyper- or hypothyroidism | TSH |
High digoxin level | Patients taking the drug | Digoxin level |
Heart failure exacerbation | Patients with heart failure symptoms or physical examination signs of volume overload | Brain-type natriuretic peptide |
Anemia | Patients with symptoms/signs of anemia | Complete blood count |
Psychological stress/anxiety | Patients reporting increase in life stressors, anxiety | |
Menopausal transition | Females in the perimenopause period | |