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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Non-specific T-wave Abnormalities
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Re: Non-specific T-wave Abnormalities
by CCF Cardio MD - MTR, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on March 23, 1999 at 23:21:12:
In Reply to: Re: Non-specific T-wave Abnormalities posted by christine m. smith on March 23, 1999 at 20:05:01:
Hi Dr.,
I heard on the local news last night about a study that was done that concluded non-specific t-wave abnormalities may be more of an indicator of a problem than previously thought.
It stated that men with non-specific t-wave abnormalities are 2 1/2 times more likely to die of a heart related problem. If you've heard of anything about this finding, can you point me to the statistical results of the study? I don't always believe what I hear in the local news, actually most of the time they inflate, so I would like to research myself.
I've had non-specific t-wave abnormalities on my resting EKG/Stress Test (treadmill) and 24-Holter for 12 years without any problems and wonder what the relevance of this abnormality is. The cardio. always just signs my EKG abnormal and has never discussed the issue with me, which is an indicator to me that it is nothing. I'm not worried about it because it is something that is out of my control (I think). Plus, it has been there for 12 years, why worry now. I focus my attention on better things. So, my questions are:
1. Can you point me in the direction of the statistical results?
2. Is this finding ditto for women?
3. What does non-specific t-wave abnormalities mean anyway? Obviously by their name "non-specific", it isn't targeted, but in a general sense. On my 24-hour Holter, I've had symptoms of dizziness that have been interpreted as "related to non-specific t-wave changes (or something like that)". Other than that, they are just words on my various test results.
4. Are non-specific t-wave abnormalities congenital or something that is developed? If developed, what causes it?
Thanks for your time answering all my questions and have a great day!
Dee
Hi! I recently had a pre-op ekg and I read it as it came off the machine "borderline ekg nonspecific T-wave changes". Neither the anesthesiologists nor the surgeon commented on the reading. Someone told me that they could mean nothing, or could be the result of a viral infection plus a few other things I don't remember. When I asked my pcp he said only in very rare circumstances do "nonspecific T wave changes " mean anything. I would be interested in knowing more about these too.
Chris S.
Dear Chris, I doubt that the t-wave changes on your ECG signified any underlying cardiac disorder. There are multiple causes of t-wave changes, but without a clinical history of cardiac symptoms, t-wave changes are usually only an ECG abnormality and a not a predictor of adverse outcomes.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
In Reply to: Re: Non-specific T-wave Abnormalities posted by christine m. smith on March 23, 1999 at 20:05:01:
Hi Dr.,
I heard on the local news last night about a study that was done that concluded non-specific t-wave abnormalities may be more of an indicator of a problem than previously thought.
It stated that men with non-specific t-wave abnormalities are 2 1/2 times more likely to die of a heart related problem. If you've heard of anything about this finding, can you point me to the statistical results of the study? I don't always believe what I hear in the local news, actually most of the time they inflate, so I would like to research myself.
I've had non-specific t-wave abnormalities on my resting EKG/Stress Test (treadmill) and 24-Holter for 12 years without any problems and wonder what the relevance of this abnormality is. The cardio. always just signs my EKG abnormal and has never discussed the issue with me, which is an indicator to me that it is nothing. I'm not worried about it because it is something that is out of my control (I think). Plus, it has been there for 12 years, why worry now. I focus my attention on better things. So, my questions are:
1. Can you point me in the direction of the statistical results?
2. Is this finding ditto for women?
3. What does non-specific t-wave abnormalities mean anyway? Obviously by their name "non-specific", it isn't targeted, but in a general sense. On my 24-hour Holter, I've had symptoms of dizziness that have been interpreted as "related to non-specific t-wave changes (or something like that)". Other than that, they are just words on my various test results.
4. Are non-specific t-wave abnormalities congenital or something that is developed? If developed, what causes it?
Thanks for your time answering all my questions and have a great day!
Dee
Hi! I recently had a pre-op ekg and I read it as it came off the machine "borderline ekg nonspecific T-wave changes". Neither the anesthesiologists nor the surgeon commented on the reading. Someone told me that they could mean nothing, or could be the result of a viral infection plus a few other things I don't remember. When I asked my pcp he said only in very rare circumstances do "nonspecific T wave changes " mean anything. I would be interested in knowing more about these too.
Chris S.
Dear Chris, I doubt that the t-wave changes on your ECG signified any underlying cardiac disorder. There are multiple causes of t-wave changes, but without a clinical history of cardiac symptoms, t-wave changes are usually only an ECG abnormality and a not a predictor of adverse outcomes.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
