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A member asked:
How reliable are the results of a ekg of the heart?
3 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Very: For rhythym, for axis changes and acute ischemia. Cannot predict the future!
Answered 7/19/2017
4.7k views
Often nondiagnostic: Ekgs are usually reliable in identifying whether the heart rhythm is normal and whether the chambers are normal size. They may show signs of scars but other abnormalities are often nondiagnostic and may be due to metabolic disturbances or inflammation . Frequently the ekg findings have to be interpreted with the help of clinical information.
Answered 12/16/2013
4.7k views
Depends: The reliability of any test is related to the question that is being asked. If the question being asked of the ECG is, "what is the cardiac rhythm?" then the ECG is highly reliable. If the question being asked is, "is there any heart disease at all in this patient?" then the reliability is not particularly high. Except for the question of heart rhythm, an ECG should not be used in isolation.
Answered 6/10/2014
4.7k views
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If you had a EKG six months ago with normal results and have continually had chest discomfort could you be having heart attack?
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