Probable RVH on EKG

[Bossa20]

Firstly, thank you for taking my question.  I am 31 years old and in good health with the exception of a 5 year battle with palpitations.  I have have had  a couple of ECGs, a holter and stress cardiolite...all came back normal.  After one of my ECGs, my doctor mentioned an IRBBB(incomplete right bundle branch block), but diregarded it as a normal variance.

Today I went to my new doctor for a follow-up to my physical and ECG and the cardiologist that reviewed it stated that there is "probable RVH, with findings of probable pathological significance."  My GP asked if I lifted heavy waits and I don't.  He said he was not concerned, but is sending me for an echocardiogram just to be sure.  Everything I read online regarding RVH scared the heck out of me and this site has been invaluable with my battle with palitations, so I am asking for any insight.

[Darcy Green Conaway, MD]

To begin, I am somewhat surprised  that you underwent a stress cardiolite at age 31 (if you are female you are extremely low risk for coronary artery disease). In the future you may want to consider a stress echocardiogram since there is no radiation involved and your pretest likelihood of having heart disease is so low.
To answer your question about the RVH....a thickened right ventricle certainly needs further evaluation. When present, this is usually due to high pressures in the lungs. If the right ventricle is thick it should be able to be seen on echocardiogram, plus you usually can estimate the pulmonary artery systolic pressure with that test so you could potentially get two very important pieces of information. Incomplete RBBB can be a normal variant.

[sandia01]

A related discussion, right ventricual hypotrphy was started.

[Darcy Green Conaway, MD]

EKG is the same thing as ECG-- sometimes we call it an EKG.
You may have carpal tunnel syndrome; given your palpitations I would consider a holter monitor or event monitor to look into these palpitations. The most common thing causing these are premature beats ("premature ventricular contractions").

[Pingy]

Dear Darcy,

I have been having Chest/Hands/Head Numbness together at the same time on and off during the day for the past few months. I have history of anxiety and heart palpitations in the past 6 months.
It does increase if my anxiety increase. But, even when i do not have anxiety, i experience these symptoms on and off during the day at work (desk-bound on my laptop)which can last for hours. I had done ECG and echocardiogram before (normal) but not EKG. What's EKG? My blood pressure and haemoglobin is normal.
I will like to know if this is due to heart disease or nerve issue. Please help me. Thanks.