EKG Information

[llw15]

I am 27 years old, no personal or family history of any heart problems.  For the past week I have been having chronich chest pain.  I also have been having insomnia.  The doctor performed an EKG, and told me that there was low voltage, but that everything else looks great.  He said that if the chest pain persists that I should schedule and echocardiagram, but that's it.  I didn't even know what low voltage meant until I looked it up.  Is this something I should be concerned about at my age with no other symptoms?  Is there anything I can do to increase the voltage?  (potassium supplement, more exercise, etc.?)  I used to work out often and was in great shape, but have strugged to regain my cardiovascular endurance since my children were born.  Could being out of shape have anything to do with low voltage?

[kenkeith]

This can be for many reasons, from obesity (the ECG leads are further from the heart) through COPD (same reason, the overinflated lungs are in the way) to significant heart disease, which are many...the ECG needs to be taken in the context for which it was done.  Apparentally your doctor is not willing to affirm any heart disorder based on the EKG and chest pains without further evidence or continued chest pains.  

[llw15]

Well I can definitely rule out obesity.  Not sure about COPD...never smoked, but I don't know what else causes it.