What does an ECG pick up? - Heart Disorders Message Board

tracey2775 · 10-06-2003, 03:43 PM

Ive been having bad palpitations for 12 years and have had 4 ECG'S which have been normal. What exactly does it pick up? Could it be missing something vital?

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tracey

NMc · 10-07-2003, 11:34 AM

Hi Tracey:
PVCs are the result of premature electrical stimulation orginating in the ventrical (instead of the atrium, where the signal is supposed to originate). ECG (or EKGs) detect electrical activity of the heart. If your only symptom is occasional PVCs, this problem would have been picked up.

DJblod · 10-07-2003, 01:33 PM

did you have palpitations when the ECGs were being recorded? if not then they wouldn't show the cause. the test you need depends on how often you get the palpitations. if you get them everyday you need a 24hr ambulatory ECG. if less often a Cardiomemo which is activated when you get the symptoms is more appropriate

tracey2775 · 10-07-2003, 03:12 PM

I have really bad palps and 4 ECG'S were done in the doctors surgery which took maybe around 5 mins and ive also had a 24 hour monitor but typically i didnt have a single palp while i was wearing them. Thats why i wanted to know if they could still pick up something even though i didnt have a palp.

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tracey

dreamgirl138 · 10-07-2003, 10:04 PM

I don't think an EKG will pick it up because mine never did. The only way I found out that I had PACs was my holter monitor. The EKG showed everything was fine, the holter said it wasn't!