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Prolonged QT interval
Yesterday I had an EKG for an upcoming surgery. It came back stating Abnormal results, prolonged QT interval.... QTc >490ms. In my twenties I had 3 to 4 bouts of tachycardia, with a pulse of 190 or more. The hospital did an EKG and found nothing, and I have not had this expierence since ( I am a 47 year old female) My Dr has ordered another EKG for next week but I am wondering what this all means. The statements on the internet about sudden cardiac arrest scare me to death! Should I be worried? What should I be doing?
Thanks for your time!
Lynda
Thanks for your time!
Lynda
Best Answer
Thanks to all of you for answering me! I don't have a complete family health history, as I was adopted at birth, and have only found my biological mother. As far as I know there was no heart history on her side. I have never fainted, but I get vertigo a few times a year. So next week I will have a head CT as well as blood work and a repeat EKG. I will let you know what happens!
Thanks again for making me feel more at ease!
Lynda
Thanks again for making me feel more at ease!
Lynda
Some medications can also prolong a QT interval, so possibly looking at your medications (if you take any) would also be a good place to start. Of course following up with an additional ECG and having a good cardiologist figure out the interval by hand instead of just looking at the machine's reading would be warranted in this situation. Have you ever had any syncopal episodes or does anybody in your family have any problems with syncope or passed away from an unknown cause?
I don't know a whole lot about prolonged QT interval, but I do know that 490ms would typically place you in a high risk category. The QT interval is dependent on the heart rate of course; the faster the heart rate the shorter the QT interval. Today's computer-based EKG machines can calculate a corrected QT, but this correction may not aid in the detection of patients at increased risk of arrhythmia. No doubt your EKG machine spit out the various summary data, which listed the QT interval as "abnormal" Have you ever measured your pulse while at rest? 490ms would most likely yield a slow pulse rate.
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Firstly please stop googling about suddenly death u will only worry yourself.
Like previously said long qt can be brought on by medications and a simple medication change resolves it.
The next option is that a healthy personable have a long qt for no reason.
The third option is that you have long qt which is genetic basically a spelling mistakes in your dna. I have this my original qt was 498 before I was put on beta blockers, a simple genetics test can rule this out.
Even if u do have it its a manageable condition so please don't worry.
The only piece of friendly advise I would give you is until you find out try avoid the following : exercise especially swimming and heavy cardiovascular work outs, alcohol especially thing brewed in barrels ie red wine whisky brandy etc, energy drinks, try I know it's hard but try relax, if you can don't set your alarm in the morning also.
Even if u do have long qt which u don't know yet you either have it medication wise which can be fixed or genetic which you have had all your life and your body has coped.
Let us know how u get on if it does come back with long qt u can always message me, take care.