Question

Cardiovascular disorders and conditions
Describe typical ECG findings for:

a) Indigestion,

b) Angina

c) Myocardial Infarction

Answer 1

1. Indigestion in lay man's term heartburn is a common problem which is faced by everyone in their life some times it is misinterpreted as heart attack which isresolved by taking an ECG. The cause is gastric acid due to various reasons such as GERD ,or excessive fasting ,various drug usage etc .

The ECG findings of indigestion is normal sinus rhythm sometimes sinus tachycardia due to increased pain and heart rate related to acidity.

2. Angina is ischaemic chest pain due to insufficient blood supply to the heart which results in pain . It is a symptom of coronary artery disease . It is a tightness ,pain and discomfort in chest due to less supply of oxygen to heart muscles than usual. It is of different types :-

- stable angina - pain occurs during exertion

- unstable angina - pain occurs at rest

- prinzmetal angina - pain due to spasm of coronary artery.

ECG findngs of angina :-

- T wave inversion

- ST segment depression

- In pinzmetal angina ,there is elevation of ST segment.

3. Myocardial infarction is also called heart attack . In this there is complete occlusion of coronary arteries supplying blood to heart muscles and results in ischemia.

ECG findings of myocardial infarction are :-

- ST segment elevation

- T wave inversion

- pathological Q wave