Hypokenesis of the Heart

[DT6393]

I had an echocardiogram done. My primary doctor told me the echo showed a hypokenesis disease of my heart and i needed to see a cardiologist for further review and testing. He also told me to suspend my gym activity and any strenuous activity until i see the cardiologist. When i asked what might cause this; he said it could be from blockage. I know i have this past year had some problems in breathing when going up and down stairs and various other activities but nothing that would have alerted me to seeing a cardiologist. I had colon cancer and a tumor removed 11/2204 with chemo weekly for nine  months following the removal of the tumor. I can not imagine having a heart issue. My mother's father died at 59 from a heart attack, she had a heart attack at 50, and my brother [69] had a heart attack in Oct/09 and a triple bypass a couple days later. I am 67, w/b 68 in aug/10. the first i can get into see the cardiologist is 12/15 and was wondering just what this disease is and what might have caused it. If due to blockage then I know it is plaque.

[PikaPika88]

Dtilman, glad to hear a good ef of your heart.  Sound like your doc is happy about your result.  How about yourselves?  Are you feeling great?  my stress test been told by the doctor performed at the nuclear lab which was bad.  He wasn't happy about my heart, sound like I was in trouble.  Guess what, my cardio said it was good, fantastic result!  The bad things written at the report, those are artifacts.  

RadioAstronomyObserver, don't forget to come back here and tell us your echo result.

[DT6393]

went to doc last week, had 2 day nuclear stress test done and just found out it was good. so i now have a follow up appt with cardiologist in 4 months with lab results to determine if i need to go no statin. my ef was 58 percent which is great.

[RadioAstronomyObserver]

  I'm interested in this thread, dtilman.  From my angiography report, from my bypass surgery, says My Efficiency Fraction is 35% but more direct to the point, my Inferior wall and Posterobasal wall are each severely Hypokinetic.  You say your Heart is hypokinetic, can you be any more specific?  I had an echo back when the surgery was done (April 09) and now I'm scheduled to have a follow-up echo the first week of December.  In the mean time, again, I'm interested in this thread.

[DT6393]

Since i did not know to ask that from primary doc. but i am sure the cardiologist will go into detail of the results of echo and I am one to ask a lot of q's. thanks for the input

[PikaPika88]

At the first place, the cardiologist told me sometimes they can reverse it if blockage caused it.  As early as a higher chance get to reverse.  

What is your EF(Ejection Fraction)% shows on the echocardiogram?  Most doctor relys on that figure to determine the diagnoses.  If it doesn't match, they'll said "artifact".

[DT6393]

thanks for the info. i am new at this and wish i had know this tool was available when i first learned i had colon cancer. it would have really helped me get thru the whole ordeal and now some thing new to my life.

[PikaPika88]

My echo showed "severe hypokenesis".  Angiogram showed NO BLOCKAGE at all.  All my atries were opened widely.

[erijon]

It stands for decreased motion of the heart wall as the heart pumps. This could be of a minor to severe degree, and of variable size or extension. It is generally due to lack of blood supply to that area of the heart.  Plus, you have a strong family history of heart disease as well so a visit to a cardiologist is very well warranted.

Good luck.

Jon