A 50-year-old female presents to the clinic with complaints…

A 50-year-old female presents to the clinic with complaints of intermittent palpitations that have been occurring for the past month. She describes the palpitations as a “fluttering” or “racing” sensation in her chest, lasting for 1-2 minutes at a time, occurring primarily at rest or during times of increased stress. She denies chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Her medical history includes hypertension, obesity, and a 15-pack-year smoking history. She takes an ACE inhibitor for her hypertension and uses over-the-counter caffeine-containing products regularly. Her family history is significant for heart disease, with her father having a myocardial infarction at age 55. On examination, her blood pressure is 135/85 mmHg, heart rate is 78 bpm, and her physical exam is otherwise unremarkable. Which is most likely contributing to this patient’s palpitations?

A 30-year-old pregnant woman, currently 28 weeks gestation,…

A 30-year-old pregnant woman, currently 28 weeks gestation, presents for her routine prenatal check-up. She has no significant medical history and reports feeling generally well. On examination, her vital signs are as follows: blood pressure 110/70 mmHg, heart rate 92 bpm, respiratory rate 18 breaths per minute, and temperature 98.6°F. She is noted to have a mild, nonproductive cough, and an increased heart rate during her physical examination. Which is the most likely explanation for this patient’s findings and should be considered normal during pregnancy?