Abnormal EKG?

Question

During Biology class today, we conducted an EKG lab. Mine appeared with abnormal results. Mine differed from the average graph in that the spikes appeared to be inverted. Upon asking my teacher, he decided it was some muscle abnormality or foreign substance that was present on my skin. Should i be worried for any circulatory conditions, e.g. high blood pressure/aneurysms?

QRS if im not mistaken, but just imagine a normal graph flipped upside down

other students who used the same machine showed results that appeared normal to my limited knowledge

Answer 1

Dear Jake,
After going through your question, the main question is that M shaped QRS recording came in all leads, if yes than you are suffering from right bundle branch block which may be partial or complete, as I have not seen the EKG.
I will recommend you to see a cardiologist immediately, and have your case sorted out.
Take care,
Dr Q.

Answer 2

I would not sweat it too much. An abnormal EKG can be caused by several things, sometimes something as simple as an electrolyte imbalance or throwing off some PVC's (premature ventricular contractions) High or low serum potassium can cause T-wave inversions. Also- bad connections and a lot of interference can alter an EKG reading. By the way- never go by what the "EKG" says- I've had several patients have "normal " EKG's that were having a heart attack. I would not worry about high blood pressure and aneurysms. These problems would not reflect on an EKG anyway- the EKG is only a tool that looks at 12 areas of your heart. And if there are abnormalities on that EKG- the area of the heart that is involved will usually reflect that on the particular lead that coincides with a certain area of the heart

Answer 3

Inverted waves can be a result from many things, such as misplacement of the leads. If it really worries you make an appointment for a physical and ask for an EKG. Also if the QRS complexes all looked the same, came regularly that is most important.

Answer 4

I wouldn't worry. A few years ago I had an EKG done for the fire department and it was abnormal. The cariologist explained that often people have abnormal ekg's simply because their hearts work different than the norm. 10 years before that I had an ekg for airborne school and got an abnormal reading as well. I am fairly abnormal myself so why shouldn't my heart be abnormal. Maybe your abnormal too, come on over join the club its much funner this way.

No worries :-)

Answer 5

If it was a school ECG machine, it could be just a faulty machine reading.
It could have be that you had something on your skin. Sweat can alter it.
If your worried take the graph paper into your local Doc and show him
If he's worried he will organise a proper one for you.
Don't stress too much I have had things done at Nursing school that have come back as if I'm really sick or dead. But I wasn't.

Answer 6

It depends upon which waves were inverted.
If he said your T waves were inverted, that usually indicates a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle and needs to be followed up on. If it was one of the other waves, you have less to be concerned about, but should probably have it checked out by your doctor anyhow, just to be sure.

Answer 7

dont be worried yet, my ekg showed abnormalitis but i just got an echocardiogram and it was normal, so go to a cardiologist and get an echo just to rule anything out

Answer 8

Worry? Don't. but if you're concerned, you might want to see your own dr and get an EKJ. Most doctors have a machine in their offices. He can check your BP too, and reassure you. That's his job.

Good luck,

Answer 9

It's probably not reason to worry. Get it checked out by a cardiologist to settle your mind. Some irregularities are quite common.

Answer 10

sounds like something was hooked up wrong, but upside down is not the problem, it's the rate & rhythm or wideness of the QRS!