Abnormal Stress Echo at Rest and same during Exercise

[bruceinmemphis]

I had a stress test with an echocardiogram.  Just found out that Cardiologist saw something unusual that showed up both in my 'at rest' ekg and the same thing for my 'exercise' ekg.

I haven't yet scheduled a follow up visit.  I'm worried and need some advice.  Doc was puzzled as to why this abnormality showed up looking exactly the same before, during and after my stress test (on a treadmill).

I know you can only speculate but does this mean something really bad or something not so bad (as opposed to having the exercise part bring on a whole slue of irregularities)?  My mother was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at the age of 85 and it never bothered here.  I'm wondering if this might also be something I am experiencing.  

I don't know anything more specific but just wondering what the possibilities might be.

[kenkeith]

NTB my be correct as damaged tissue does not pass normal blood flow if any.  Usually a stress test is to observe occluded vessels, and without exertion there is no blockage observed, but with exertion when the body is experiencing a need for more oxygen the flow of blood to a deficit area will be detected.

It is possible you have a totally blocked artery and colateral vessels have by-passed the occlusion so the blockage is observed at rest and at exertion.  I have a totally blocked LAD, but there is angiogenesis to the area that the LAD was feeding and dosen't show up with a stress test.  .

[NTB]

Hello, Bruce. I think you're thinking is correct that "One would think that a blockage would show up more during exercise."

But OTOH, sorry to say...

"If the test is abnormal during both exercise and rest segments, there is probably limited to no blood flow to a part of the heart muscle at all times likely indicative of a prior myocardial infarction (heart attack)."

[bruceinmemphis]

Thanks for the response.  You said "Heart valve during excerise might show up looking different, so I would lean more to it being the heart valves or arteries.  Did you mean to say 'lean more to it being the heart valves'.  Doesn't make sense since you said 'heart valve during exercise might show up looking different'.

Would a heart valve issue be congenital?  

Would hardening of the arteries or any blockage show up the same?  One would think that a blockage would show up more during exercise.

[Encephalomalcia]

If it were serious, I would doubt you would have even had the excerise ekg.  Could be a congenital heart defect or could be heart valve problem.  Heart valve during excerise might show up looking different, so I would lean more to it being the heart valves or arteries.  I would not worry now as it is just guessing.  Schedule your follow up visit as soon as possible for if nothing else to put your mind at ease.  If it were something very serious, I am sure that the clinic would be calling you to make sure the appointment gets scheduled.