Can an EKG detect a blockage in your heart that could cause a heart attack?

Answer 1

Not precisely - but it can detect if part of the heart muscle has been damaged, which usually is caused by blockage. They have to do other tests to determine blockage. EKG can also determine blockage indirectly by putting the heart under stress like on a treadmill and it will show if there is not enough oxygen getting to the heart muscle, again, a condition usually caused by blockage.

Answer 2

And EKG won't directly detect a blockage but it can detect changes in the why the heart is functioning because of blockages and damage to the heart muscle which has been caused by blockages.

An EKG measures the movement of electrical charges through the heart. The measurement appears as a wave with ups and downs. They measure it from many different positions and each position has a normal characteristic shape.

If there has been damage or if a lack of adequate blood flow to part of the heart is causing abnormal conduction of electrical currents through the heart, it will be picked up on the EKG and will be a warning sign that something is amiss. It is not terribly good at determining exactly what the problem is, but since it is a quick, easy and cheap test to perform, it is what they do first. An abnormal result will tell the doctor to do more tests. If your primary care doc does the test and sees an abnormality, they'll send you to a cardiology specialist.

Often the EKG from a damages heart will look normal if you are at rest. So a cardiologist will often perfrom a "stress test" where they make you walk fast on a treadmill to get your heart rate up while you are attached to the EKG monitor. AGain, a normal heart will respond in a characteristic manner when it is pumping faster and a damaged heart will show abnormalities.

It is also possible that an abnormal EKG is the result of a slightly abnormal physical shape to your heart and not a result of disease. Further testing will determine if that is the case.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

That would depend on how big the blockage is. The best determinant would be an Echo. The EKG detects especially if there is an abnormal pulse. The physician then determines what could be the cause of an abnormal pulse.

I hope this will help

Answer 4

By itself the EKG will not pinpoint a blockage, an IVUS procedure will do that. The EKG will show if the heart muscle has weakened which is caused by lack of blood from a blocked artery. The IVUS procedure can then help pinpoint the vessel and monitor treatment such as angio, stenting or worse case by-pass.

Answer 5

No. EKG's are mainly used to spot abnormal heart rhythms and heart attacks. Blockages can only be detected by having either a nuclear stress test done or a heart catherization.

Answer 6

Blockage would have to be great to be indicated by and EKG alone. The EKG is used primarily to find abnormal rythyms.
Generally, if any abnormal results are found, you will be refered for futher testing.
Your doctor should take into account your family history, current symptoms, general health, etc. in deciding to test further.
If you want more info or want to research more about it, I recommend www.webmd.com. There is a wealth of info there.

Answer 7

Yes. There will be a dysrhythmia or abnormal rhythm. It will show a first, second, third, or complete heart block. All of which have a different wave pattern. However it won't tell you exactly where it is. Just that it's there. Further testing will be needed such as cardiac enzymes, ultrasound, and or cardiac catherization.

Answer 8

The only thing that found the blockage for me was a heart cath!