Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Abnormal EKG-Bundle branch issue

Support Forums
>
Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
wa5ekh
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2005
Posts : 68
Posted 12/20/2005 3:07 PM (GMT -8)
I am type 2 diabetic in tight control. No Meds. No BP problems, or tachy problems. A1c is normal- 5.6 Dieting and exercising in my mid 50's and 100# over weight(!). Also I have a fairly low daily activity level. I get monitored frequently and most blood lab issues have been normal or low risk, non-recurrent. Recently after working on my car in extreme Texas Heat last July I had an abnormal EKG. Two more since. All three were Bundle branch issues. The Cardiologist didn't seem to concerned. Anyone have this kind of issue?

I'm a little concerned about understanding and giving EKG the weight it does or doesn't deserve. This seems like a suspect technique, even though it is an established technique. Reading literature, EKG is often miss-interpreted or over-interpreted, but also there is a lot experience out there. In this case the Cardio. seemed to think other tests to confirm this were more of a risk than the potential the EKG suggested.

Anyone have any good references or suggestions?
profile picture
Patoolla
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2003
Posts : 525
Posted 12/22/2005 6:58 PM (GMT -8)
Hello and welcome!  Sorry your having this problem and I hope the cardiologist can give you a better explaination than what he has done so far.  Unfortunately, we have to be very assertive to pry out info from some of these docs.  Being assertive is not easy for me but I'm learning and also the more I learn about whatever my problem is the more it helps ask the docs the questions needed.  Sorry I don't know a thing about bundle branch problems...I hope someone here does.  Have you done a google search for info on this?  This site might help a lot:  www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=990  
profile picture
wa5ekh
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2005
Posts : 68
Posted 12/23/2005 11:00 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks! that was a perfect answer. And the one I didn't run accross on my own. This almost exactly what my doctor said, but being at the Cardiologist must have made me nervous enough not to get this as clearly as it was in this reference.
From your source:

"What is bundle branch block?
Normally, the electrical impulse travels down both the right and left branches at the same speed. Thus, both ventricles contract at the same time. But occasionally there's a block in one of the branches. This doesn't mean that one of the ventricles won't contract. It just means that impulses must travel to the affected side by a detour that slows them down. That means one ventricle contracts a fraction of a second slower than the other. Usually if there's nothing else wrong, a person with bundle branch block shows no symptoms. But since we can record the electrical impulses through the heart with an electrocardiogram (ECG), a bundle branch block shows up on the ECG as an abnormality.

If you have bundle branch block, it may have only been noticed when you had an ECG. You may feel fine. However, there's something wrong with the blocked bundle. For instance, it might mean that a small part of your heart isn't receiving enough oxygen-rich blood. That's why, if you have bundle branch block, your physician will want to see you regularly to be sure no other changes occur. You may have bundle branch block for many years and still feel fine, but it's important to have regular check-ups. "


Amazingly similar! Thanks.
profile picture
Patoolla
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2003
Posts : 525
Posted 12/25/2005 11:39 AM (GMT -8)
Yippie, I'm so glad that site helped.  Isn't it amazing that of all the sites there were to chose from I chose one that you hadn't found and that was helpful!  Best to you and hugs, Pat
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Chronic Illness

Take Control Of Your Life

Take Control Of Your Life

Expect The Unexpected: Coping With Life's Challenges

Expect The Unexpected: Coping With Life's Challenges


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2023 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.