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Rare Heart Conditions That Affect EKG Readings

The EKG test measures electrical activity through the course of each heartbeat. By tracking an electrical charge from its inception, each chamber of the heart reveals certain characteristics, and the overall flow of the heartbeat mechanism can be analyzed. Many heart conditions affect the EKG readout, however, an abnormality may have more than one explanation. The EKG is just one of many tests to evaluate cardiac function, and together they provide an excellent picture of the heart's health.

  1. Congenital Heart Disease

    • Some heart conditions result from developmental problems during childhood or prior to birth. Many of these are hereditary. The first wave in an EKG path, the P Wave, studies activity in the two upper chambers of the heart, the atria. Congenital heart disease is a rare condition that can affect this part of the EKG reading. When present, the P Wave is said to have abnormal amplitude, reflecting a possible problem in the flow of electricity between the right and left atrium.

    Long QT Syndrome

    • This genetic disorder presents in only one of about 10,000 people. It usually affects the later waves on an EKG reading, as the electrical signal passes from the atria down into the ventricles. The condition gets its name from the extended time it takes the electrical signal to pass from the Q wave to the final T wave at the end of the heartbeat cycle. Symptoms of this condition include cardiac arrhythmia and loss of consciousness.

    Scimitar Syndrome

    • One particularly rare heart condition that significantly affects EKG testing is Scimitar syndrome. In this condition, the heart and some of its surrounding components are positioned abnormally, which affects oxygen transfer to the lungs. Sometimes the placement of the heart itself within the chest is affected. A normal EKG exam will be considerably distorted since electrical charges are not occurring in the expected place. Patients with Scimitar syndrome usually require a specialized placement of the EKG electrodes for a proper exam.

    Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

    • In a normal heart, electrical charges first flow through the upper atria, then down into the ventricles. In Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, one or both of the atria may connect directly with the ventricle underneath, which causes the charge to flow more quickly between atrium and ventricle. Thus the initial waves of the EKG, the P Wave and R Wave, have decreased distance between them, known as a short PR Interval.

    T Wave

    • The final stage of the electrical process creates an EKG pattern known as the T Wave. A tall T Wave may point to a couple of unusual conditions. Abnormal amplitude in this wave can suggest potassium intoxication. In some cases, psychosis is the underlying cause of a T Wave distortion. During a heart attack, the T Wave can dramatically change shape and is often accompanied by significant changes in the Q and S Waves as well.

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