Shortness of breath, and abnormal EKG

[Pointman]

My questio is, i had a EKG that was abnomal ,it showed  i had ST Elevation.
my symtons are shorness f breath, tire easy. soem disconforment in  chest and back and lefet side  at  times. I had aPullonaty function test and showed no problems, so iam wondering how serious this could be and more about what ST elevation could be.

pointman

[Pointman]

Jon, my sisuation is soem what diffant than some people.  I go  to to VA hospitial
for medicialcare,as  i haev no other insurance. My assigend DR. oreded a regular Stress test, he  i wnet ti have the test , the DR there said i could have the regular stress because  when they ddi a EKG while i wa sshooked up to do stress test it showed my abnormal EKG , the ST elevation,, so he ordered teh Nuclar stress test, for teh today, i  beacem ill with a sinus and ear infection, so it was changed to April 13 next oping they had, my regular DR. had no in put in this and i  doubt eh even knows about it. So i ddint get any instructions, teh tech  that was going to do the test on me dsaid i should get it right away.I do know i dont feel  good and have more shortnes of breth than usual.
I thank  you for yuor kind help.

[erijon]

I think if your doctor felt there was a reason to do it sooner you would have had it done already, they don't take chances like that. I would have your doctor tell you how much exercise you should do until then as welll as what you should do with your meds.

The reason I had three of these is because I had recurring chest pain and my cardiologist wanted to be safe and do these annually. After this last normal test she gave me a clean bill of health and said they were no longer necessary. My pain was caused by my gallbladder, it was full of galstones and once it was removed last year my pains all left me. The gallbladder can cause pains that mimic cardiac disease as well, but I don't think it would cause a change in your EKG.

Good luck with your test, let me know if I can help you through this.

Jon

[Pointman]

Jon  thanks  for the info my Test isnt schedulad  till April12,  do yuo thank  that is to long to wait/ allso should still walk ,and do my normal actives, or should i  take it more easy. i take a asprin once a  day and a beta blocker, should I posible incrase my asprin dose?

[erijon]

You need a nuclear stress test to determine if you have a blockage which is causing the ST elevation, as kenkeith said, an impending infarction. I am a 50 year old male and have had these each of the last three years, all normal. It is a safe test and there will be a cardiologist present and your test will be terminated at the first sign of trouble. If they see your EKG show any changes or if you feel pain they will stop the test, they are very careful. It's either this test of an angiogram which is much more invasive. You need to let them find the underlying cause of your ST elevation, this is the best way to start. This is especially true as you also have risk factors due to your diabetes and high blood pressure. You could start with an echo but it may still leave enough questions unanswered that you will still need a nuclear stress test anyways.

Good luck,

Jon

[Pointman]

thanks for the reply, my ST 2 MM or more,  they want me to have a Nuclar stress, is that safe for me? do  yuo think  i should ahve a echo. or other test first. I am very  short of breath , and have soem chest  discomort, i ama male past 50,diabetic  and ahev a mild High blood pressue.
thanks for  yuor information, and any more yuo could  provide, ddi yuo allso say  ST could  mean i am about have a infactiom.

[kenkeith]

ST segment elevation is usually attributed to impending infarction, but can also be due to pericarditis or vasospastic (variant) angina. In some healthy young adults, a form of ST elevation can be normal.  EKG not qa very reliable source and findings require further evidence such as an echocardiogram...

ST segment elevation is considered significant if it exceeds 1 mm in a limb lead or 2 mm in a precordial lead.  My stress test was teminated when ST sgement was 1 mm.  Causes of abnormal ST Elevation:
Heart muscle damage
Vasospastic angina (can cause the chest pain).
Pericarditis (inflammation of sac surrounding the heart...can cause pain, and usually a fever).
Early repolarization (that can cause a rhythm irregularity).