Question 1

abnormal ekg shows old heart attack.  i am only 25 with no risk factors. i am completely shocked.  did i really have one?

Accepted Answer

Multiple possibilite: Really need an old ECG to compare too or an echo of heart to see if there is any evidence of scarring or wall motion abnormality. Could be congenital or related to prior trauma. Any family risk factors? Also be aware that  drugs like cocaine can cause MI in people with no risk factors. See cardiologist if you want resolution of your concerns

Question 2

im young and just had an ekg. it shows consistent with anterolateral infarct and consistent with inferior infarct. probably old. does this mean ive had a heart attack? im so scared and crying my eyes out. i only went in for mild chest pain?

Accepted Answer

: Your EKG detected nonspecific ST elevation and T wave changes, which are often misinterpreted as "infarct" by the machine.  This EKG strip has to be read by cardiologist in the context of clinical scenario.

Question 3

how long does an old heart attack show up on an ecg?

Accepted Answer

ECG: Usually always but nothing is always.

Question 4

would an old heart attack show up on an ecg? if so which wave would show it?

Accepted Answer

Q wave: There are patterns in old heart attack waves on ekg. Often several specific leads will show the scar on  particular, specific walls of the heart. Review this with your doctor.

Question 5

had a ten second ekg yesterday.i do have skipping beats.it didn't show.that night thought i was having a heart attack.felt like my heart was on fire?

Accepted Answer

Be seen again: It sounds like you need a holter monitor or a 30 day event monitor.

Question 6

i am getting an ekg and leaving for vacation to europe a couple days later. im worried something will show up wrong on the ekg that prohibits me from travel. what diseases can be diagnosed that are dangerous beside heart attack on an eg?

Accepted Answer

: An EKG is a good test for showing heart rhythm and heart conduction abnormalities. It is doubtful that you will find an abnormality that would prevent you from being able to travel, unless you do the EKG at a time when you were having significant cardiac symptoms. if it is just a routine EKG, I would not worry about it. good luck.

Question 7

a major heart attack would always show up on ekg ?

Accepted Answer

Never say always : Major heart attacks are the result of either occlusion of blood flow to key areas of the heart or serious electrical dysfunction creating an unstable heart rhythm. While there may be some occult or exceptional cases of sudden death that may not have time to register on an ekg, most, if not all, major heart attacks would be apparent on an ekg.

Question 8

would a heart attack usually show up on a 3 lead ekg?

Accepted Answer

It can : A complete ECG is all 12 leads. Having said that a 3 lead ECG can give suspicion to prior injury or infarct, but not confirm for as confidently. Also matters which 3 leads are being traced, contiguous or not so that it would be more or less accurate if it made an anatomic sense.

Question 9

which tests are recommended after ekg shows heart attack?

Accepted Answer

Depends: We may find surreptitiously in doing ekg that they may be an old heart attack. We work up the heart to find out if there is clogging of arteries or by echo how well the heart is functioning. If it is acute with symptoms and ekg suggestive of heart attack, the person is admitted to the hospital for blood tests and proper treatment by the cardiologist either invasively or by meds.

Question 10

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.

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Doctor answers about:

Ekg shows old heart attack

A member asked:

Abnormal ekg shows old heart attack. i am only 25 with no risk factors. i am completely shocked. did i really have one?

A member asked:

Im young and just had an ekg. it shows consistent with anterolateral infarct and consistent with inferior infarct. probably old. does this mean ive had a heart attack? im so scared and crying my eyes out. i only went in for mild chest pain?

A member asked:

How long does an old heart attack show up on an ecg?

A member asked:

Would an old heart attack show up on an ecg? if so which wave would show it?

A member asked:

Had a ten second ekg yesterday.i do have skipping beats.it didn't show.that night thought i was having a heart attack.felt like my heart was on fire?

A member asked:

I am getting an ekg and leaving for vacation to europe a couple days later. im worried something will show up wrong on the ekg that prohibits me from travel. what diseases can be diagnosed that are dangerous beside heart attack on an eg?

A member asked:

A major heart attack would always show up on ekg ?

A member asked:

Would a heart attack usually show up on a 3 lead ekg?

A member asked:

Which tests are recommended after ekg shows heart attack?

A member asked:

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

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