started04

Hi Pat,

The echo provides a visual display on the echo equipment's screen. The heart motion is seen in real time during each heart beat. The tech doing the echo pointed it out and I saw my wall motion impairment. This indicates almost always heart muscle muscle damage due to an insufficient supply of blood (ischemia) to the heart muscle and that can happen without pain or knowledge of an event (heart attack). Happen to me!

PART OF THE ECHO TEST IS TO MEASURE THE CARDIAC OUTPUT REFERRED TO MEDICALLY AS THE EFFICIENCY FRACTION (EF). IF THE WALL MOTION IMPAIRMENT IS SIGNIFICANT, THERE SHOULD BE AN EF LESS THAN NORMAL (75% TO 55).

Also an impaired wall motion will increase heart size to compensate for a less than normal output. AN ECHO MEASURES HEART SIZE. THERE MAY BE A VARIATION OF 10% AS THERE MAY BE SOME DIFFICULTY TO PROPERLY OUTLINE THE FUZZY BORDERS WITH A TRANSDUCER.

If you have diminished EF and an enlarged heart determined from the echo, the odds are about 100% for heart damage. The nuclear will/should determine the exact area of insufficient blood flow. Do you have your EF and heart's left ventricle heart size? If not, you should get a copy of the report for your records.

Stress and depression (untreated) over a period of time can place a burden on the heart and the physiopathology can cause a heart problem. Usually there are rapid heartbeats and high blood pressure associated and sustained over a period of time.