ecg

[oxer]

Does anyone know if an ecg is normal, does that mean absolutely no heart disease. If someone has problems with there heart valves regurgitating, and they are symptomatic, would an ecg be normal..or can an ecg tell a doctor if the valves need further evaluation?

[itdood]

It's not unreasonable to push for a follow up echo.  I would justify it by saying you want to check for changes in status because your symptoms have worsened.

Personally I really doubt anything is wrong.  Mild regurge is a very common finding.  But since it's bothering you so much, get it checked out to ease your concerns.

[r9c]

thanks for the info,i think i will bring it up again soon to my doctor,the thing is most of the time..during the ECG test..well it never shows LVH now..its just once when i was having a bad palpitations at the er,where the ecg shows possible left ventricle enlargement.My bp is so far ok during most test..around 117/70 etc..highest once was 140/90.
My echo last 2009 october never shows possible LVH,its just the routine ECG test shows..possible LVH.I will try to get back my old echo result soon,but the cardiologist mentioned that the left ventricle was in a normal size,but then alot can change since then,anyway will try to request for an echo if possible.

[grendslori]

I would push for the f/o echo in your case. My echo was done in June of last year and showed a possible LVH/ boardline. I have have some pretty severe shortness of breath back in September and mentioned that to my doctor (I just LOVE my doctor, she always listens and follows up on ANY problem I take to her!) She ordered a second echo which I had done a few weeks ago and sure enough, I now have LVH; that was in a time span of about 15 months. Now having said that; my daughter had severe bi-ventricular hypertrophy so there was the possibility that we both have it because of a genetic factor. I don't have HBP which is the main cause adults end up with LVH. Get another echo done. I'm living proof that there can be changes that fast on the echo, especially if you were boarderline and if you have HBP, it can certainly happen.

[oxer]

I see your point.do you know how much an echo cost.If push comes to shove then I might need to pay out of pocket. Really hope I do t have to..

[r9c]

Typing mistakes " unlikely anything significant had change "

[r9c]

Actually if u have done an echo with normal result a year ago most cardiologist wouldnt want to repeat the echo again,i had mine back in 2009 october due to palpitation and my ecg shows possible left ventricle enlargement,so an echo was done where they measure the left ventricle and it was normal so result no lvh.back earlier this year i requested an echo after having episodes of lightheadness and palpitations but the doctor refused cause she said its very unlikely there will be a major changes in the heart strutude in  2 years and considered my ecg at er was normal

So i figured out that the only way to get another echo is to go for a 2nd opinion,well just pay them and u will get your request fufilled.in ur case ur echo was normal a year ago so its vey likely anything significant have change

[oxer]

I have some moments when I get really short of breath and tire out quickly as well. I also get sharp chest pain.. Lately im getting very nauseous and short of breath after meals. I saw a cardiologist and he ordered an echo and a 24 hour holter. I got my results a few months back because I continue to get dizzy and short of breath. My echo found trace regurgitation in the tricuspid and the mitral valve and that was it, holter was normal. I was at the ER the other day complaining to them that i was feeling dizzy and short of breath and they did an ecg and it was normal, well borderline first degree Av block. So im suspecting that maybe its time to repeat this echo because its been a year from the last one and im very much symptomatic.. I understand now that an ecg can be normal yet i still have something else wrong. I want another echo but i can't get my doctor to repeat one, he says its not necessary. Does anyone know how i can get my doctor to repeat an echo, he just refuses to reorder one even when i point out to him that my last one was a year ago..

[itdood]

ECG and EKG are one in the same.  They mean electrocardiogram.  ECG is the English abbreviation, EKG is German.

An ECG cannot evaluate valves directly.  That is done with an Echo.  However, as doc can usually tell if there are valve problems by listening with a stethoscope. The turbulent blood flow that results from regurgitation can be heard as a murmur.

[grendslori]

The EKG can be normal and there may still be issues with the heart wall thickenesses. I am going through this right now. My EKG and chest x-ray are normal, but I have Left Ventricular Hypertrophy which means my heart walls are too thick. Once the heart walls hit a certain thickness, the EKG will take on a totally different look. While the EKG does pick up electrical issues with the heart it does also show other things as well such as if the heart tips to the right instead of the left side (Known as Dextrocardia).  

[r9c]

It depends and ecg is used to check your heart rate and ryhthm and the heart electrical problem,where an echo is used to check ur heart pumping ejection fraction,the valves and the heart size especially the left ventricle

[Intandem]

For example my EKG and ECG turned out normal except for a sinus arrhythmia and the left ventricle being slight enlarged but it wasn't until I wore a holter monitor that they picked up my Supraventricular Tachycardia.

[Intandem]

Are you talking about en Electrocardiogram or an Echocardiogram?

I believe the EKG only picks up the strength of the electrical currents of your heart aswell as its rhythm. However sometimes a heart abnormality won't show itself on the EKG so a holter monitor is required which records your heart's rhythm for 24-48 hours.

If your talking about an ECG, or Echocardiogram and the results turned out fine, I'd say the screening was accurate but once again sometimes heart abnormalities aren't picked up unless they are occurring at the moment of the screening.