EKG for asthma?

Posted By  CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on March 24, 1998 at 16:56:47:

In Reply to: EKG for asthma? posted by Michelle Hinn on March 18, 1998 at 02:09:06:

: Hi,
  I recently went to the doctor to be checked for possible asthma that is brought
  on primarily by extreme temperature changes and exercise. After doing the
  exercise test, the doctor (actually her nurse was the one who called) ordered
  me to have an EKG done. Why would she do this? What else could my symptoms
  be? I am a 27 year old female who is not overweight and in fairly good shape.
  There is, however, an undiagnosed disorder in my family that caused several
  relatives on my mother's side to die from stroke in their 30s and I almost
  had a stroke a while back due to the birth control pill. Could any of these things
  be related?
  Thanks in advance!!!!

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

Dear Michelle, thank you for your question.  An ECG was probably done to exclude
coronary artery disease as a cause of your symptoms given the strong family history of
strokes which indicates a hereditary clotting disorder might be present.  At age 27, the
chances of you having coronary disease are very small but doing an ECG in this setting just
sounds like good, cautious medicine to me.  You may be at risk for a clotting event like
a stroke or a heart attack given the history of a "near stroke" while you were on birth
control pills so I would suggest that you see a doctor who specializes in clotting
disorders (a hematologist) and avoid birth control pills for now.  My thoughts are just
speculative though becasue I don't know your whole medical history.  However, I don't
think your asthma is related to a clotting disorder that may be present and the asthma should
be addressed as well.  The reason for the ECG is that in many patients, chest pain can
masquerade as shortness of breath so doctors are taught to always consider other
possiblities when investigating complaints like that.  I hope you find this information
helpful and good luck!
Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Specificic diagnoses
and therapies can only be provided by your physician.