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EKG Accuracy

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Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
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faye1218
New Member
Joined : Apr 2006
Posts : 2
Posted 4/5/2006 8:03 PM (GMT -8)
I went in for a routine physical about 1 1/2 weeks ago and one of the things my DR does is EKGs.  I got the results back for my EKG this past Monday (1 week after) and there was suggestion on it that I may've had a "mild heart attack" previously, as my Dr put it.  He then suggested that he do another EKG on me, which I did during that visit.  This time, it didn't show the heart attack, but it did show a PVC, or extra heart beat.  My Dr went on to tell me that this can be common, however too many PVCs could indicate heart disease.  He suggested that I wear a holter monitor for 24 hours for further testing...I will be doing this this Friday.

I am a complete nervous wreck right now over all of this.  Like anybody, I want to know the answer now about if there truly is something wrong with my heart.  I am 30 years old and my cholesterol and blood pressure are both within normal ranges. I do not smoke and previous EKGs from prior years have come back normal.  My blood/urine tests came back perfect.  My grandmothers did have heart problems - but nobody in my family at the age I am now!

I have read quite a bit about EKGs sometimes giving false positives and I am hoping this was the case with mine.  I do know I have been under a significant amount of stress lately, and now I think I'm having anxiety attacks over all of this.  Before meeting with the Dr, I didn't have problems with chest pains. But now I think my anxiety is starting to cause them because now I'm having them!

Anyways, I guess my biggest question is about why my 2 EKGs came back different.  The 1st one showing the possibility of a heart attack, the 2nd one showing PVCs only.  I have read that heart attacks can cause PVCs.  But I'm wondering why my 2nd EKG showed ONLY the PVC and not the heart attack.  I'm hoping the 1st EKG was wrong.  But if it wasn't, is it possible for the heart attack not to be noticed by an EKG within 1 week time of the initial test? 

Any input would be appreciated. 

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Aldo
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 289
Posted 4/6/2006 5:58 AM (GMT -8)
Maybe I can answer your last question first. When anyone has a heart attack, some area of their heart was destroyed, or damaged. The damage can range from minimal to massive. Some previous heart attacks do show on an EKG, and some don't, but the week and a half between your 2 EKGs had nothing to do with whether it showed a previous heart attack (MI) or not. They show up years after an mi (myocardial infarction), or they don't. It really depends on the area of the heart affected and to what degree of damage it did.

The best EKGs are performed by a 12 lead electrocardiogram. I doubt yours was this type, because I assume you had it done by your family doc. If they placed 12 electrodes on your body, then it was a 12 lead EKG :)

The results of an EKG are only as good as the tech who takes it, the condition or age of the equipment, and the expertise of the interpreter.

If your first EKG was correct, do not worry! If you had an mi, it was so light that it did not affect you, right? That is, until someone spooked you. Then the chest pain started which is normal. Your anxiety can cause chest pain.

I am very surprised that your doctor told you about this, without explaing the "rest of the story". Cardiologist go out of their way to hide the bad stuff from us sometimes, because they know about the power of the mind. Especially when the "mind" hears it from a doctor.

I had an mi 3 years ago. Since then I have seen many cardiologist and had many EKGs. I have asked different docs if they can look at my EKG results and tell if I have had a heart attack. Some have said yes and some have said no. Go figure, lol.

Just follow up on this. I read yesterday that less than 30% of women who arrive at a hospital, and are having an mi, complain of chest pain. This was from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Rj

Post Edited (Aldo) : 4/6/2006 11:01:15 AM (GMT-6)

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els
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2005
Posts : 4033
Posted 4/6/2006 7:25 AM (GMT -8)
Hi faye,  I wanted to take a moment to welcome you to healing well forum.  I hope that you are able to find the kind of answers and support that you are seeking here.  Rj has given you some excellent advice and information.  I am glad to hear that your physician is proactive in your care and with your annual physicals.  Perhaps if this were the case more people would not have the extent of health problems that they do now a days.  Well, aside from what we do ourselves to our own bodies ;).  I hope that you continue to visit us here and post this is a great site and we have some wonderful people here.  Looking forward to hearing more from you...Take care

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faye1218
New Member
Joined : Apr 2006
Posts : 2
Posted 4/6/2006 9:20 AM (GMT -8)
Well I wanted to post a follow up on this - hopefully to help others.

I'm embarrassed to say that I stressed over this so much last night that I ended up taking myself to emergency to get checked out.  I was in there for 4 hours and they did an extensive exam consisting of EKGs, chest XRay's and blood work that would measure my blood for any trace of chemicals that are released after a heart attack.

I am happy to say that everything came out normal with no sign of previous heart attacks or extra heart beats - Thank god!  I appreciate everybody's support in this forum.  I feel bad as I feel as if I wasted ER's valuable time on this - but it really did provide me with a huge sense of relief.  This is my heart - and it's not something I want to mess around with, if you know what I mean.  I hope others can learn from my experience, as I sure have!  Thanks again for listening!

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DREAMGIRL
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 600
Posted 4/14/2006 9:02 AM (GMT -8)
:-)  Hi faye,  only four hours in the ER that is not too bad.  yes i have wandered into Er twice with worries, been there for 8 hours and nothing wrong, so do not feel bad, but i know i hate to go to the ER so i am now the other end of the exteme, i won't go unless, well i won't even say it out loud,  i just won't go anymore, but keep in mind they do not mind seeing you at 3000.oo dollars a shot. lol

 

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