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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Panic Attack During Resting EKG
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
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Panic Attack During Resting EKG
by jerry78, Nov 04, 2003 12:00AM
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?
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Nov 04, 2003 12:00AM
, Nov 04, 2003 12:00AM
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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I'm going to do more research on LVH by EKG and see what else I can come up with.
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.