Question 1

would a heart doctor be able to tell if u had a heart attack by ekg and listening to your heart?

Accepted Answer

Yes & no: Most any doctor, regardless if a cardiologist (heart specialist), general internist (adult medicine) or family physician, can interpret an ekg and determine if you have had a heart attack in the past (due to changes in electrical activity patterns as represented by your ekg). However, there is no way to tell just by listening to the heart. Murmurs, etc don't explain cause of sound.

Question 2

why does every ekg i get say normal sinus rhythm with sinus arrhythmia possible lateral infarct , age undetermined does this mean i had a heart attack? drs didnt even tell me my ekg said this?

Accepted Answer

: Such ekg changes are common and non specific. What is needed is follow up in the office with your primary care doc or cardiologist with access to your medical records. An exam, good history and careful review of existing records will help in clarifying/ reconciling such findings.

Question 3

will ekgs and blood work tell if im at risk for a heart attack?

Accepted Answer

Yes: If the ECG is done with exercise and blood work involves checking lipids.

Question 4

can just doing an ekg and blood test tell if you are at risk for getting a heart attack?

Accepted Answer

ECG : An ECG and a blood test can suggest the presence of risk factors for heart attack. As there are many risk factors and many aren't reflected in ECG or a single blood test, there is only partial information in the two test scenario.

Question 5

can you tell me if i had a normal ekg reading, but weeks after im still having chest pains should i worry about a heart attack?

Accepted Answer

See cardiologist....: If you are still having chest pain even with a normal ekg, you should see a heart doctor to be certain your pain is not from your heart. There are other tests that may be needed, depending on your situation, including echocardiogram, exercise stress test, etc. A cardiologist will be able to tell you for sure that your pain is not from your heart. Good luck!

Question 6

im 23, ive had a ekg, blood tests, and chest x-ray 4 times in the er for chest pain and palpitations. everytime they tell me all the tests are good. they tell me its anxiety and stress related, should i worry about heart attack after all the test?

Accepted Answer

: It is not feasible to provide an opinion without additional history, physical examination may be some tests. It would be prudent to see your doctor to see if you may be depressed. Depression is treatable. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, exercise may help. Start with low intensity exercise such as walking and gradually increase the intensity as tolerated. Drink more water. Wish you good health!

Question 7

can an ekg show if i have ever had a heart attack in the past?

Accepted Answer

Yes but not always: Yes but not always.  A full thickness heart attack (transmural infarct) is more likely to show as downward deflections or q waves.  Even these can disappear if the heart attack was many years ago.

Question 8

just got ekg-showed heart attack! i'm in good health & exercise a lot.should i be having some discomfort if i had a heart attack in the past?

Accepted Answer

Silent MI: A heart attack ( myocardial infarction or MI) sometimes can occur without pain( silent MI).  Your doctor can counsel you on maintaining your health and strategy to prevent a recurrence.

Question 9

how can an ekg show if ive had a heart attack? ive been having heart problems and my doctor wants to do an ekg. she says it will show if ive had a heart attack. how does it do that?

Accepted Answer

EKGs : Ekgs are great screening tools to look for major heart problems, and in particular can show evidence of an old heart attack. An ekg is a measurment of electrical activity in the heart and when you have a prior heart attack, the heart cells affected no longer work correctly, and this can show up as abnormal electical activity. Particularly very specific downward deflections (q-waves) in certain patterns can suggest this. But recognize that not all q-waves indicate prior heart attack. If your doctor is concerned, they may order a more confirmatory test.

Question 10

had an ekg a few years back that said:marked st abnormality,possible inferior subendocardial injury.however several cardiac enzymes blood tests taken that day were normal. how likely is it that ive had a heart attack in the past with normal ekg now?

Accepted Answer

Old EKG: This interpretation is dependent on the reader of the EKG and the algorithm the machine uses to interpret.  Discuss with your Dr. and yes this is possible.

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Doctor answers about:

Can an ekg tell if you had a heart attack

A member asked:

Would a heart doctor be able to tell if u had a heart attack by ekg and listening to your heart?

A member asked:

Why does every ekg i get say normal sinus rhythm with sinus arrhythmia possible lateral infarct , age undetermined does this mean i had a heart attack? drs didnt even tell me my ekg said this?

A member asked:

Will ekgs and blood work tell if im at risk for a heart attack?

A member asked:

Can just doing an ekg and blood test tell if you are at risk for getting a heart attack?

A member asked:

Can you tell me if i had a normal ekg reading, but weeks after im still having chest pains should i worry about a heart attack?

A member asked:

Im 23, ive had a ekg, blood tests, and chest x-ray 4 times in the er for chest pain and palpitations. everytime they tell me all the tests are good. they tell me its anxiety and stress related, should i worry about heart attack after all the test?

A member asked:

Can an ekg show if i have ever had a heart attack in the past?

A member asked:

Just got ekg-showed heart attack! i'm in good health & exercise a lot.should i be having some discomfort if i had a heart attack in the past?

A member asked:

How can an ekg show if ive had a heart attack? ive been having heart problems and my doctor wants to do an ekg. she says it will show if ive had a heart attack. how does it do that?

A member asked:

Had an ekg a few years back that said:marked st abnormality,possible inferior subendocardial injury.however several cardiac enzymes blood tests taken that day were normal. how likely is it that ive had a heart attack in the past with normal ekg now?

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