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Panic Attack During Resting EKG
I'm a 43 year old male that suffers from panic disorder.
Cardio-wise, I'm in good health.
An exercise stress test in January 2002 was normal, working up to beyond maximum and 10.1 METS.
A EBCT scan in 1996 showed a total score of only 2.
Lipids are fine, no family history.
During a resting EKG in August 2003, I suffered a severe panic attack during the tracing. Naturally, the tracing showed tachacardia, but the nurse that read the report also said it shows left ventricular hypertrophy.
A cardiologist told me that it is not uusual for an EKG to show LVH during a severe panic attack, due to the way the heart is reacting during the attack.
Do you agree? Is it possible that a normal stress test can evolve to a finding of LVH in only 18 months, if indeed, the cardiologist is wrong in his opinion of a false EKG finding during the panic attack?
Cardio-wise, I'm in good health.
An exercise stress test in January 2002 was normal, working up to beyond maximum and 10.1 METS.
A EBCT scan in 1996 showed a total score of only 2.
Lipids are fine, no family history.
During a resting EKG in August 2003, I suffered a severe panic attack during the tracing. Naturally, the tracing showed tachacardia, but the nurse that read the report also said it shows left ventricular hypertrophy.
A cardiologist told me that it is not uusual for an EKG to show LVH during a severe panic attack, due to the way the heart is reacting during the attack.
Do you agree? Is it possible that a normal stress test can evolve to a finding of LVH in only 18 months, if indeed, the cardiologist is wrong in his opinion of a false EKG finding during the panic attack?
I am 35 & my EKG showed LVH. I got echocardiagram which showed the size of the left ventricle is definitely within normal limits. (less than 1cm, LVH usually 1.3cm or more?) The next day, wore holter monitor, nothing detected. But hours after taking holter off, was out of breath running. Went to ER, & EKG showed "LVH by voltage". I had written off the LVH as "normal for me", but was told in ER there's more to echo than size of heart, & it could be heart disease.
In past 3 years, have been thru stress tests, (1 nuclear), chest X-rays, echo, EKG's, event recorders, holter monitors. All have been fine, except that the last stress test showed BP of 200/88 at the end. I've had panic attacks also, and my cardiologists have all said it's anxiety. What else could this "LVH by voltage" mean on an EKG other than anxiety? I just got an authorization from my health care provider saying I am approved for 2 doppler echocardiagrams & a coronary bypass w/0 cardiac cath, (imagine my fear opening this letter) but my pcp, who is new, hasn't gotten back to me, & I'm losing trust in him.
In past 3 years, have been thru stress tests, (1 nuclear), chest X-rays, echo, EKG's, event recorders, holter monitors. All have been fine, except that the last stress test showed BP of 200/88 at the end. I've had panic attacks also, and my cardiologists have all said it's anxiety. What else could this "LVH by voltage" mean on an EKG other than anxiety? I just got an authorization from my health care provider saying I am approved for 2 doppler echocardiagrams & a coronary bypass w/0 cardiac cath, (imagine my fear opening this letter) but my pcp, who is new, hasn't gotten back to me, & I'm losing trust in him.
thanks for the input. Yes, I've read many texts that warn of all the false-positives of EKG on LVH findings.
I'm going to do more research on LVH by EKG and see what else I can come up with.
I'm going to do more research on LVH by EKG and see what else I can come up with.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Jerry,
There is no association that I'm aware of of LVH and panic attacks. I've even rechecked a few sources to confirm this.
If you were tachycardic from the attack, you might have some rate related changes on your ECG, but overall that should not be enough to give you LVH criteria on the ECG.
As far as the criteria for LVH go on the ECG, remember, they are false positive ECGs for LVH. The way to confirm this finding would be with echocardiography.
i hope this is a start.
There is no association that I'm aware of of LVH and panic attacks. I've even rechecked a few sources to confirm this.
If you were tachycardic from the attack, you might have some rate related changes on your ECG, but overall that should not be enough to give you LVH criteria on the ECG.
As far as the criteria for LVH go on the ECG, remember, they are false positive ECGs for LVH. The way to confirm this finding would be with echocardiography.
i hope this is a start.
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