Can it be detected by an ECG?

I think you need to have a heart scan....I hope all is well....Mandy

Shakire,

It is possible to get a result from an EKG that would suggest an enlarged heart or even from a chest xray. The only real way to know for sure is with an echo.

Good Luck

Tony

Thanks. What's an echo? Is that not an ECG?

Can it be detected by an ECG?

An EKG measures the time an impulse pass through an area and if there is any abnormal tissue that presents a resistance to the impulse...longer time than normal range could indicate an enlargement, higher amplitude measured in mini volts could indicate possible tissue damage.

An echocardiogram is transmitting and receiving ultra sound signals with a transducer (small object manually moved over the heart), and it provides a visual display of the heart as it is beating.

Provides a view and ability to measure heart wall motion, blood pasing through valves, dimensions of heart chambers and wall thickness and functionality for adequate pumping.

Ah, thank you - so an echo is like a scan.

A scan takes a series of still images. Echo bounces ultra sound waves off the heart and provides visibility while the heart is beating. Has the functionality to get a still image also. Especially useful to watch the blood flow through the valves as it is happening.

Ultra sound is also used to see a baby in motion in a pregnant woman.

Oh right, thanks for that.

Shakira,

That's how mine was first picked up. After finding some abnormalities in my ekg that suggested thick ventricle walls my doc did an echo to see just how enlarged things had become.

Have you done the echo yet? What your doctor plan to do after reading your echo? Mine was shown on the chest X-ray and echo! The second opinion doc asked me to do a CT chest. I have done it but no result yet? The old cardio said "All Normal" It means all can sit in the filing! No action, no treatment, wait for it burst! I also got no appointment with the second opinion cardio. I don't know how I'm going to find out? I wish to know the options for treatment. OR it is really no treatment? Just wait for it burst?

Pika

Hi
Hiya , i was getting a lot of pains under my left boob and cant lie on my left without it being uncomfortable with other symptoms. I had 2-3 chest x rays and the doc wanted me to go back and told me i have an enlarged heart that is in an unusual shape of a boot you put on. I saw the xray and i was so weird lol No wonder i cant lie on my left hand side for long.

Anyway the doc said its normal after i had a clear on the ekg.But because of it being enlarged he wanted to do a ecg.
He said the pains under my boob etc were prob my muscle. (its like that not so i know somewthing isnt right) hasnt shifted for months and months.

I did have my ECG on monday and am waiting for the results.

xmex

An x-ray would be the cheapest and almost best way to check the size of a heart. I have been told that an echo is not as good.

An EKG does nothing to show size of heart.

My cardio told me the ECG can't tell the size of enlarged heart or any enlarged heart. Echo can tell which part of the heart enlarged and how big (size) are there?

Normal? An enlarged heart is not normal, or they would call it a "Normal Heart" not enlarged.

Hiya

I have had X-ray,ECG and EKG.
The EKG (thats the one where you are wired up and they check your heart beat) that cannot show its Enlarged.
The X-Ray does...thats how mine was spotted.
The ECG (Thats the Echo,that can measure the size of it and see where they underlying peoblem is if there is one for the cause of the Enlarged heart)


My Gp told me its normal for my heart to be enlarged.But with the pains i was getting etc i knew it wasnt.It can depend on your weight etc too.

I rang the gp for my results today but they are not ready yet for another week.
:blob_fire xcollettex:blob_fire

(I HOPE I GOT ALL THAT RIGHT LOL)

I thought the thing where they wired you up was an ECG? That's what they call it here in the UK anyway.

:confused: I might have it wrong then ..i am from the uk too. I remember having the wire up one i thought it was called an EKG.I could be wrong though.
xmex

EKG and ECG are the same same test. Called ECG in the UK, EKG in the US.

The heart size of women are slighly smaller than for men. There must be some misunderstanding, as I dopn't believe it is normal to have an enlarged heart. An athlete has an expected enlarged heart and functions very well. The athlete as a slower than normal heart rate during rest.

So an ECG/EKG is where they wire your heart up? An EKG is not an ultrasound? When i was wired up, i was told i was having an ECG.

So an ECG/EKG is where they wire your heart up? An EKG is not an ultrasound? When i was wired up, i was told i was having an ECG.

EKG/ECG..SA:blob_fire ME THING...THE ECG MAYBE SHOWED SOME ABNORMAL THAT MIGHT BE FROM HAVING AN ENLARGED HEART..THEY NEED TO DO A ECHO (ULTRASOUND) AND THEN AN STRESS ECHO. THEY DO THE U/S AND HOOK YOU UP TO ECG THEN PUT YOU ON A TREAD MILL GET YOUR HEART RATE HIGH AND THEN YOU RUN OVER TO THE TABLE AND THEY TAKE ANOTHER ECHO ..SO THEY CAN SEE HOW YOUR HEART HANDLES STRESS. THE STESS. :blob_fire

EKG/ECG..SAME THING...THE ECG MAYBE SHOWED SOME ABNORMAL THAT MIGHT BE FROM HAVING AN ENLARGED HEART..THEY NEED TO DO A ECHO (ULTRASOUND) AND THEN AN STRESS ECHO. THEY DO THE U/S AND HOOK YOU UP TO ECG THEN PUT YOU ON A TREAD MILL GET YOUR HEART RATE HIGH AND THEN YOU RUN OVER TO THE TABLE AND THEY TAKE ANOTHER ECHO ..SO THEY CAN SEE HOW YOUR HEART HANDLES STRESS. :blob_fire

When I had my Thallium stress test, they injected "Persantine" made my heart went very very naughty. By that time, I was SOB, was going to faint (not fainted yet), didn't care and not paying attention at all, what people said or told me to... How can I run over to the table????? If I still can run, I think I'll run out at the door way......

So an ECG/EKG is where they wire your heart up? An EKG is not an ultrasound? When i was wired up, i was told i was having an ECG.

EKG uses leads (electrodes) on the body to different positions around the heart to get an electrical impulse response from different angles. Electrical impulses are the medium for detecting any irregularities (arrhythmia, heart size, damage heart muscle, etc.)

An echo attaches some leads to the body and a hand held transducer uses ultrasound to see on a screen the heart beating, blood flow, heart wall motion. Has the functionality to measure heart chamber size, detect a leaking valve, and observe heart wall motion, calculate pumping ability, etc.

When I had my Thallium stress test, they injected "Persantine" made my heart went very very naughty. By that time, I was SOB, was going to faint (not fainted yet), didn't care and not paying attention at all, what people said or told me to... How can I run over to the table????? If I still can run, I think I'll run out at the door way......

Did they carry you to the table!:confused:

He converted my palpitations to normal rhythm by IV. Put me on the trolley. Laid down there and slept for nearly one hour then put me under the scan. A nurse hold me walk to the scan. After an hour rest, I can walk and run with normal heart rhythm! No problem! I think the Dr put too much reversal after that I was given a lot of "strong coffee" to show my heart worked better! Really a chemical play on my heart. It was a torture!