What can cause a EKG to be abnormal?

An electrocardiogram (EKG) measures your heart's electrical activity. ... Sometimes an EKG abnormality is a normal variation of a heart's rhythm, which does not affect your health. Other times, an abnormal EKG can signal a medical emergency, such as a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or a dangerous arrhythmia.

What does a good EKG look like?

A "normal" EKG is one that shows what is known as sinus rhythm. Sinus rhythm may look like a lot of little bumps, but each relays an important action in the heart. An EKG displays P Waves, T Waves, and the QRS Complex. ... P Waves: P waves are the first "bump" on the EKG.

What is ST segment depression on ECG?

The ECG sign of subendocardial ischemia is ST segment depression (A). Depression is reversible if ischemia is only transient but depression persists if ischemia is severe enough to produce infarction. T wave inversion with or without ST segment depression (B) is sometimes seen but not ST segment elevation or Q wave.

Which leads normally have T wave inversion?

Myocardial ischaemia may also give rise to T wave inversion, but it must be remembered that inverted T waves are normal in leads III, aVR, and V1 in association with a predominantly negative QRS complex.

What is myocardial reperfusion?

Myocardial injury in the setting of an acute myocardial infarction is the result of ischemic and reperfusion injury. Reperfusion therapies, including primary percutaneous coronary intervention and fibrinolytic therapy, promptly restore blood flow to ischemic myocardium and limit infarct size.

What is a TIA episode?

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a brief episode of neurological dysfunction caused by loss of blood flow (ischemia) in the brain, spinal cord, or retina, without tissue death (infarction).

What would happen if the right side of the brain was damaged?

The brain is divided into two halves (hemispheres). The left half controls movement and sensation in the right side of the body, and the right half controls movement and sensation in the left side. Thus, damage to the right side of the brain may cause movement problems or weakness on the body's left side.

Can you die in your sleep from a dream?

Although such a dream may bring about feelings of fear and anxiety, it is no cause for alarm as it is often considered a positive symbol. Dreams of experiencing your own death usually means that big changes are ahead for you. You are moving on to new beginnings and leaving the past behind.

Can the brain heal itself after damage?

After a traumatic brain injury, it sometimes happens that the brain can repair itself, building new brain cells to replace damaged ones. But the repair doesn't happen quickly enough to allow recovery from degenerative conditions like motor neuron disease (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS).

What are the warning signs of a stroke?

Stroke Warning Signs:Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

How long does it take for a heart attack to happen?

A: ��Shortness of breath, chest pain (or jaw pain, shoulder pain or arm pain), funny heart beats, nausea or vomiting.�� Q: How long do symptoms last during a heart attack? A: ��They will typically last for 15 minutes or longer. Seconds of symptoms typically are not (due to) your heart.

Which arm is a sign of a heart attack?

It can spread down the arms, to the back, or to the head and neck. Both women and men report chest pain as a primary symptom of heart attack, but women more often than men are likely to have some of the other symptoms, such as nausea, jaw pain, or shortness of breath, that are described below.

Can you have symptoms of a heart attack for weeks?

Some heart attacks strike suddenly, but many people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. The earliest warning may be recurrent chest pain (angina) that's triggered by exertion and relieved by rest. ... A heart attack can cause cardiac arrest, but it's not the only cause.

Can you die from having a panic attack?

But when you're having a full blown panic attack or anxiety attack, the symptoms �� chest pain, flushing skin, racing heart, and difficulty breathing �� can make you feel as though you're going to faint, lose your mind, or die. The reality is, you won't.

Can you have a panic attack for no reason?

If you are suddenly experiencing an episode of intense anxiety and fear that sets off physical reactions with no apparent reason, you have an episode called a panic attack. Multiple occurrences of this extremely common health issue are indicative of panic disorder, which can be very problematic and frightening.

What does an anxiety attack look like?

For doctors to diagnose a panic attack, they look for at least four of the following signs: sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, a choking sensation, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, fear of losing your mind, fear of dying, flushing, feeling that danger is nearby, a racing heart (heart palpitations) and feeling an ...

What are the signs of a panic attack?

Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms:"Racing" heart.Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy.Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers.Sense of terror, or impending doom or death.Feeling sweaty or having chills.Chest pains.Breathing difficulties.Feeling a loss of control.

What can I take for angina pain?

Several medications can improve angina symptoms, including:Aspirin. Aspirin reduces the ability of your blood to clot, making it easier for blood to flow through narrowed heart arteries. ... Nitrates. ... Beta blockers. ... Statins. ... Calcium channel blockers. ... Ranolazine (Ranexa). ... Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

What are the signs and symptoms of angina?

Angina symptoms include:Chest pain or discomfort, possibly described as pressure, squeezing, burning or fullness.Pain in your arms, neck, jaw, shoulder or back accompanying chest pain.Nausea.Fatigue.Shortness of breath.Sweating.Dizziness.

Can pleurisy go away on its own?

The inflammation that occurs with pleurisy can cause pain with breathing and may even cause a large amount of fluid to collect in the pleural sac. Pleurisy can go away on its own or worsen so that fluid has to be drained from around the lungs. Some people develop scar tissue called adhesions after they have pleurisy.

What can happen if pleurisy is not treated?

If pleurisy goes untreated, it may lead to a pleural effusion, which is accumulation of fluid in the pleural space. If pleural effusion goes untreated, the pressure on the lungs can lead to respiratory distress or possible lung collapse.

Can pleurisy come and go?

How long pleurisy lasts depends on its cause. For example, pleurisy caused by pleurodynia may come and go over a few days. In rare cases, a person with pleurodynia may have several episodes of pleuritic chest pain over several weeks before the illness finally goes away.

How serious is a TIA?

While TIAs generally do not cause permanent brain damage, they are a serious warning sign that a stroke may happen in the future and should not be ignored. TIAs are usually caused by one of three things: Low blood flow at a narrow part of a major artery carrying blood to the brain, such as the carotid artery.

What are the signs symptoms of a TIA?

The signs and symptoms of a TIA resemble those found early in a stroke and may include sudden onset of:Weakness, numbness or paralysis in your face, arm or leg, typically on one side of your body.Slurred or garbled speech or difficulty understanding others.Blindness in one or both eyes or double vision.More items...

What are the 4 signs of an impending heart attack?

Common heart attack signs and symptoms include:Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back.Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain.Shortness of breath.Cold sweat.Fatigue.Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness.

How do you know you have an aneurysm?

A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. In most cases, a brain aneurysm causes no symptoms and goes unnoticed. In rare cases, the brain aneurysm ruptures, releasing blood into the skull and causing a stroke.

What are the odds of surviving a brain aneurysm?

Someone with an unruptured brain aneurysm has about a 1% chance of the aneurysm rupturing per year. Patients with ��giant�� aneurysms (1 inch or greater in diameter) have a much higher risk of rupture. The survival rate for those with a ruptured brain aneurysm is about 60% (40% die).

Can you get an aneurysm from stress?

Although the exact cause of an aneurysm is unclear, certain factors contribute to the condition. For example, damaged tissue in the arteries can play a role. The arteries can be harmed by blockages, such as fatty deposits. ... This stress can damage the arteries because of the increased pressure.

What are the symptoms of an unruptured aneurysm?

Symptoms of an unruptured brain aneurysm can include:visual disturbances �C such as loss of vision or double vision.pain above or around your eye.numbness or weakness on one side of your face.difficulty speaking.headaches.loss of balance.difficulty concentrating or problems with short-term memory.

How do you diagnose Tia?

To help determine the cause of your TIA and to assess your risk of a stroke, your doctor may rely on the following:Physical examination and tests. ... Carotid ultrasonography. ... Computerized tomography (CT) scanning. ... Computerized tomography angiography (CTA) scanning. ... Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).More items...