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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
EKG results
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EKG results
by pete_d, Jan 30, 2003 12:00AM
I recently went to the doctor's office for some strange chest pain I have. I have also been noticing a quite a few heart palpitations at rest. This chest pain is best described, as a cramping pain that begins from the left part of my chest and seems to spread across gradually. It is a dull, cramping type of pain and is at its worse when I'm sitting. Generally, when I stand up or walk around it diminishes, but not always. I also get a strage "pound" in the left side of my chest fairly near the surface. When I told my doctor about these problems he gave me an echocardiogram. He was looking for signs of pericarditis, but instead the result of the echo was ACUTE ANTERIOR INFARCT. This diagnosis was printed by the machine, not him. He said that this diagnosis probably resulted because I have an atypical hearbeat, but not one thats dangerously irregular. I'm going to have a stress test next week to get further information and diagnosis. I am 21 yr old Male. Blood pressure 140/82. I am overweight, not diabetic, ex smoker for 1 year, no drugs, very little alcohol. My only medical history is a Heart Murmur, and more recently some heart palpitations.
And one more thing, the palpitations and the pain are the only symptoms I have recognized. No nausua, faintness or anything like that. And I have no family history of heart problems.
Please give your opinion what could be wrong.
And one more thing, the palpitations and the pain are the only symptoms I have recognized. No nausua, faintness or anything like that. And I have no family history of heart problems.
Please give your opinion what could be wrong.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-KE, Jan 31, 2003 12:00AM
Dear Pete,
Sorry to hear about your chest discomfort. You had an electrocardiogram (ECG) which showed a reading of an acute anterior infarction. The reading given by the computer is based on what it interpreted from your ECG, not taking into account the clinical scenario. ECG changes associated with pericarditis are similar to those seen with a heart attack (myocardial infarction), but the computer may not be able to distinguish them. There is also a phenomenon called early repolarization which may also have ECG changes similar to those seen with a heart attack. It is very common for an ECG machine to give a printed diagnosis inconsistent with the clinical situation. I think it is very unlikely that you had a heart attack, and it is more likely that the ECG machine misinterpreted the findings.
I think it would be a good idea to have an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart and can detect valvular abnormalities as well as problems with the pumping function of the heart. It may also be able to show whether or not you have any changes consistent with pericarditis. Pericarditis is inflammation of the sac which contains the heart, called the pericardial sac. Given your history of palpitations it may also be a good idea to have a holter monitor study done. The holter monitor is a device worn for 24 to 48 hours and records the heart's electrical activity. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your question,
CCF-MD-KE
Sorry to hear about your chest discomfort. You had an electrocardiogram (ECG) which showed a reading of an acute anterior infarction. The reading given by the computer is based on what it interpreted from your ECG, not taking into account the clinical scenario. ECG changes associated with pericarditis are similar to those seen with a heart attack (myocardial infarction), but the computer may not be able to distinguish them. There is also a phenomenon called early repolarization which may also have ECG changes similar to those seen with a heart attack. It is very common for an ECG machine to give a printed diagnosis inconsistent with the clinical situation. I think it is very unlikely that you had a heart attack, and it is more likely that the ECG machine misinterpreted the findings.
I think it would be a good idea to have an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart and can detect valvular abnormalities as well as problems with the pumping function of the heart. It may also be able to show whether or not you have any changes consistent with pericarditis. Pericarditis is inflammation of the sac which contains the heart, called the pericardial sac. Given your history of palpitations it may also be a good idea to have a holter monitor study done. The holter monitor is a device worn for 24 to 48 hours and records the heart's electrical activity. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your question,
CCF-MD-KE
branch block, borderline ECG