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Can Heart Ultrasound And Chest Xray Reveal Blockages?
Question: can a ultrasound of your heart, chest xray, and chest ct scan view arteries in your heart and see if there are blockages? or would only a stress test determine that? I am convinced that since I have not had
a stress test, that Dr's are missing something wrong with my heart. I'm a 26 year old female that has had more palpitations than usual especially upon working out but I've also been dealing with anxiety.
a stress test, that Dr's are missing something wrong with my heart. I'm a 26 year old female that has had more palpitations than usual especially upon working out but I've also been dealing with anxiety.
Brief Answer:
Need some more information for further comments.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic,
Ultrasound of heart (echocardiography),chest X-ray and chest CT scan can neither visualize arteries nor show blockages inside the arteries.
Stress ECG test (TMT) also can not locate any blockages in coronary (heart) arteries but it can reveal ischemic changes (lack of blood supply to the heart musculature) in heart by graphical recording.
A physician will interpretate the electrical activity recorded on the electrogradiogram.
If your rest EKG report is indicative of ischemic changes or some thing wrong with heart as you are saying,then i would like to know,
1) Which tests you have done so far?
2) Since when you are having palpitations?
3) Why you feel if there is anything wrong with your heart?
Is because of palpitations or some thing else?
Kindly let me some more information regarding your problem,I will guide you further after having enough medical history.
Regards,
Need some more information for further comments.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic,
Ultrasound of heart (echocardiography),chest X-ray and chest CT scan can neither visualize arteries nor show blockages inside the arteries.
Stress ECG test (TMT) also can not locate any blockages in coronary (heart) arteries but it can reveal ischemic changes (lack of blood supply to the heart musculature) in heart by graphical recording.
A physician will interpretate the electrical activity recorded on the electrogradiogram.
If your rest EKG report is indicative of ischemic changes or some thing wrong with heart as you are saying,then i would like to know,
1) Which tests you have done so far?
2) Since when you are having palpitations?
3) Why you feel if there is anything wrong with your heart?
Is because of palpitations or some thing else?
Kindly let me some more information regarding your problem,I will guide you further after having enough medical history.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
several ekgs, echocardiogram, chest ct with contrast, xrays, blood work since April. everything comes back normal.
I have always had a palpitation here and there that last a brief second, but in August I had an episode of fluttery/irregular feelings in my chest that lasted about 10 minutes after I had breakfast. I went to the hospital and was admitted and monitored for a little over 24 hours. nothing abnormal was found, but the fluttering had stopped before I even went to the hospital.
I'm a 26 year old female who is slightly overweight. I do try to exercise but my heart fears are stopping me from doing so. I fear the next episode of fluttering everyday even if I only feel an occasional extra beat/flutter. Just the other day I felt fluttering for a good two hours at work. I wasn't dizzy, I didn't feel pain, just uneasy over the feeling. Sometimes I feel tightness, no pain or shortness of breath just a strange sensation of tightness.
I have been ultimately diagnosed with anxiety. But I feel weird things when I don't feel as anxious. These heart symptoms are new and concerning for me and I feel so consumed by it. Not sure if I should run to the hospital every time I feel flutters or not but I also feel that I have an undiagnosed heart problem because drs don't catch an episode on a monitor.
I have always had a palpitation here and there that last a brief second, but in August I had an episode of fluttery/irregular feelings in my chest that lasted about 10 minutes after I had breakfast. I went to the hospital and was admitted and monitored for a little over 24 hours. nothing abnormal was found, but the fluttering had stopped before I even went to the hospital.
I'm a 26 year old female who is slightly overweight. I do try to exercise but my heart fears are stopping me from doing so. I fear the next episode of fluttering everyday even if I only feel an occasional extra beat/flutter. Just the other day I felt fluttering for a good two hours at work. I wasn't dizzy, I didn't feel pain, just uneasy over the feeling. Sometimes I feel tightness, no pain or shortness of breath just a strange sensation of tightness.
I have been ultimately diagnosed with anxiety. But I feel weird things when I don't feel as anxious. These heart symptoms are new and concerning for me and I feel so consumed by it. Not sure if I should run to the hospital every time I feel flutters or not but I also feel that I have an undiagnosed heart problem because drs don't catch an episode on a monitor.
Brief Answer:
Anxiety with panic attack is the most likely possibility.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the quick follow-up.
I have read all your history and understand the concern.
You have done almost all cardiac evaluations and which all came normal then I would keep anxiety with panic attack as the first and the most likely possibility here.
As you had already been evaluated and ruled out cardiac rhythm issues like ectopic beats,premature atrial or ventricular contractions,paroxysmal supra ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation etc.
But I will also want to rule out hypothyroidism,anemia or gastric reflux problem where one could have palpitations with feeling of tightness in chest.
1) Thyroid function tests to rule out hypothyroidism.
2) Check blood hemoglobin (you might have already done) to rule our anemia.
3) Stress ECG (TMT) if you have not done it earlier to check the activity of heart during exertion or heavy physical work.
Therefore,after eliminating all the above possibilities, you should start anti-anxiety medicines (Tab.lorazepam or Tab.alprazolam) with psychological counseling which will help to de-stress you and alleviate the anxiety related palpitations.For which you may consult nearby physician who will know about it.
In addition, here are some of the other treatment options which you should follow,
1) When you have such symptoms, breathe slowly and deeply through the nose and talk to your family and friends.
2) Do not take caffeine or alcohol (if you take) at night just before going to bed.
3) Do yoga and mind relaxing exercises like meditation to calm your mind in your daily routine.
4) You can also practice progressive muscle relaxation which is useful in anxiety by alternately tensing and relaxing the muscles.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions,I will be happy to answer that.
Regards,
Anxiety with panic attack is the most likely possibility.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the quick follow-up.
I have read all your history and understand the concern.
You have done almost all cardiac evaluations and which all came normal then I would keep anxiety with panic attack as the first and the most likely possibility here.
As you had already been evaluated and ruled out cardiac rhythm issues like ectopic beats,premature atrial or ventricular contractions,paroxysmal supra ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation etc.
But I will also want to rule out hypothyroidism,anemia or gastric reflux problem where one could have palpitations with feeling of tightness in chest.
1) Thyroid function tests to rule out hypothyroidism.
2) Check blood hemoglobin (you might have already done) to rule our anemia.
3) Stress ECG (TMT) if you have not done it earlier to check the activity of heart during exertion or heavy physical work.
Therefore,after eliminating all the above possibilities, you should start anti-anxiety medicines (Tab.lorazepam or Tab.alprazolam) with psychological counseling which will help to de-stress you and alleviate the anxiety related palpitations.For which you may consult nearby physician who will know about it.
In addition, here are some of the other treatment options which you should follow,
1) When you have such symptoms, breathe slowly and deeply through the nose and talk to your family and friends.
2) Do not take caffeine or alcohol (if you take) at night just before going to bed.
3) Do yoga and mind relaxing exercises like meditation to calm your mind in your daily routine.
4) You can also practice progressive muscle relaxation which is useful in anxiety by alternately tensing and relaxing the muscles.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions,I will be happy to answer that.
Regards,
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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