I am a 29-year-old female. I have a history of panic and anxiety disorders. I have had a couple of episodes of SVT which sent me to the hospital in the past 3 years. I have had what I suppose are PACs or PVCs since the anxiety disorders started and have been taking atenolol for the past year for them and the rapid heart rate. It's worked well, but in the past couple of weeks I have been under a lot of stress and the palpiations have come back. I went to the doctor today and had an EKG done. The doctor came in and said that my EKG wasn't completely normal because there were some inverted t-waves along with the normal rhythm. What can this mean?
2006-07-19 13:01:51 · 5 answers · asked by Ribbons 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
The doctor offered me no explanation whatsoever. If she had, I wouldn't be on here asking.
2006-07-19 14:23:12 · update #1
The T wave on an EKG represents the repolarization or resetting of the electrical cells in the bottom chambers of the heart. Reasons for inverted T waves are numerous and may include ischemia, Heart attack, hyperventilation, Anxiety, certain medications, infections around the heart, pulmonary embolus (blood clot in the lung), electrolyte disturbance (abnormalities in sodium, potassium levels) etc. When an EKG is viewed, all of the waves are evaluated, not just one in particular. With this in mind and considering that the rest of the EKG appeared to him/her as "normal", is probably why he/she stated it was an essentially normal EKG. It was quite wise of you to have this checked out considering your past history and you should continue to have physical exams regularly. I hope this was helpful.
2006-07-19 18:33:47 · answer #1 · answered by GVD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the most frequent readings of an EKG is NSSTTWC..or, nonspecific ST (wave) T (wave) changes. Meaning, these ekg changes are different than the "normal" but nonspecific in definition. If your physician thought you were having a heart attack, blood work for cardiac enzymes would have been ordered. If your physician thought you may have had a past cardiac episode, a cardiac stress test and/or catherization would have been ordered. Two things.....Number TWO...do NOT worry. Number ONE......talk with your physician. You need information for two reasons....one...you need to be educated about your heart and what it is doing ...and why. Two....you need reasssurance. Both are worthy of attention and your physician is the best person to help you. I am a little fusterated with your physician for saying there was some EKG changes and then not taking the innitiative to explain them, to reassure you if there was no problem or to tell you a further work up was needed. You have to be your own advocate...so start advocating. Ask your physician the questions you want answers to. We can supply you with lots of info....but none of us on this forum can tell you about you.
2006-07-20 02:59:27 · answer #2 · answered by lee1946 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the first thing u need to do is to chill out and relax. try involving in things that intrest you and please you or atleast think of happy situations and relax ur thought process and mind.
as far as ur ecg is concerned, those pretty much look like nonspecific changes, especially with ur anxiety quotient and also the year long atenolol that you were on.
apart from that , learn to communicate with ur doctor well and clarify all the doubts regarding those changes, as he is the only one who would be in a better position to answer all these questions. I wouldnt be saying this, but, ask ur doctor for a second opinion.
i would advise u lifestyle modification and self education. bye and take care.
2006-07-20 05:33:47 · answer #3 · answered by sree 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try mediation and see what is going on in your life when you start having palpations or other symptoms
evaluate your activites
2006-07-19 23:45:09 · answer #4 · answered by kathy h 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask your doctor to explain it to you.
2006-07-19 20:15:58 · answer #5 · answered by A G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋