ecg

[a2009]

my ecg reads " sinus tachycardia with occasional ectopic complexes.cannot rule out Anterior infarction.age undetermined.abnormal ecg"
what does that mean?

[kenkeith]

A ventricular ectopic beat  is an extra heartbeat originating in the lower chamber of the heart. This beat, also called a premature ventricular contraction (PVC), occurs before the beat triggered by the heart's normal function.

Ventricular ectopic beats are common and do not indicate a problem in people without heart disease. However, if a person has aortic stenosis, heart failure, or a previous heart attack, VEBs may be followed by ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, which can lead to sudden death.  Worst case scenario.  

An EKG or ECG is not a very good soruce for diagnosing a heart condtion other than rhythm problems.  EKG information requires confirmation with other clinical evidence and tests.  Usually, an echocardiogram is a followup test, and if there is heart cell damage there will be hypokinesis (heart wall movement impairment) and the heart will pump less than normal.