HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Does An Abnormal EKG Report After An Anxiety Attack Indicate?

default
Posted on Mon, 20 Apr 2015
Question: I had an anxiety attack earlier today and went to an urgent care center. They did a chest X-ray which was fine, BP was normal, but my EKG was abnormal. He acted like it was fine since issues were surely caused by anxiety. My sinus rhythm was normal, my T waves were not(non specific t wave abnormality) and I had prolonged qt intervals. He acted like it was nothing but still freaking me out. I have no family issues with this and I had a normal EKG a couple years back. I am 32 and on Metformin for PCOS. I also take Co q10 400mg twice a day for egg quality for IVF.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neel Kudchadkar (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Troubling EKG issues? You can feel confident to take this and get better...

Detailed Answer:
Dear "XXXX",

I am Dr. Neel Kudchadkar and I'll help you out with your issues.

Let me say, before we begin, that I sincerely appreciate your eye for detail, in supplying meticulous clinical and technical information about what happened today, "the anxiety attack", and pointers to tests done in the past.

It really was helpful.

While Metformin and Ubiquinone are quite powerful medications in resolving PCOS I would say that these drugs never had, have or will have a "side effect" that causes anxiety or panic attacks. At worst, PCOS may cause subtle mood alterations, and as you probably know, we want to stop anxiety attacks from occuring.

An anxiety attack is a really unpleasant experience. And what makes it more irritating is when the "white coats" pronounce, "Oh, it's nothing, just chill."

I disagree.

Dear Catc20, I would politely ask you to visit an empathetic local doctor and he or she would prescribe you a very low dose of a medicine called "Buspirone". In all probabilty you'll need to take it for week or so. Buspirone goes down very well with both Metformin and Ubiquinone, so we have no issues there.

Buspirone has other nice effects as well, on blood pressure and the like.

There are a other short term, low dose "meds" that can be taken for this, I'm sincerely interested in the anxiety attack that took place today, and what can be done to prevent it from ever happening again.

If you could recall anything, that could help our case further, kindly feel free to contact me.

It's OK.

Be happy :).

Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Medical Consultant
healthcaremagic.com
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Neel Kudchadkar (9 hours later)
Thank you very much for the information regarding anxiety. It definitely can be debiliating. It came our of nowhere. I suffered a miscarrriage thru ivf 2 months ago and that stress alone of starting over is scary.

Regarding my ekg results. Should i be worried about them? Sinus rhythm was normal, but the nonspecific t wave and prolonged qt interval have me a little scared. I had a normal ekg two years ago. Is this something i should get checked out with a cardiologist? I have no history of long qt in family that i am aware of. The urgent care dr assumed it was only from anxiety and my chest xray was fine. Thank you in advance!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neel Kudchadkar (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Let's look at your records, and defeat the anxiety.

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,

1. I rather believe in listening to the patient (as opposed to hearing), and devoting myself to solving all pertinent issues. A doctor may be clinically right, but it's just not right if the patient feels that despite all exhortations to contrary, something is still "wrong" with him or her.

2. I would most politely request you to lay your hands on the entire EKG report, "scan" it and upload it to our website. I know you are very systematic, so you might want to upload other reports as well. So that our team can analyze them.

The bottomline.
_____________

1. You are concerned about a "non specific T wave abnormality". In cardiology, the most probable reason, this finding took place, was the result of anxiety attack. This is a fact.

2. You are very concerned about "prolonged QT intervals". This occurs in many conditions that are out of the scope and relevance of this discussion.

Dear Catc20, let me tell you a story, in the history of the development and acceptance of the EKG as the mainstay of cardiac pathology (or ills), many milestones occurred. The fact is that the QT interval and it's aberrations as we know of it, were described, in patients who were (at that time) frightened, panicky (for whatever reason). Later, QT prolongation was described in patients of other conditions.

3. Therefore, both EKG patterns that occurred that day, happened due to anxiety. I am confident of this. And I stand by my diagnosis.

4. Nevertheless, I want to reassure you, and assure myself that justice has been done to your query, so let's analyze your EKG and sundry other medical records.

5. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by doing this.

How to deal with anxiety.
_____________________

1. Typically, you might be prescribed SSRI's to help you out with this problem.
2. SSRI's relieve anxiety and have a whole host of side effects, which I am loathe to allow you to suffer.
3. The fact remains that you had valid reasons to become anxious.
4. Therefore, methods of dealing with anxiety have to be long term in nature.
5. A discussion of the methods (non drug) of dealing with anxiety is rather
out of scope here, nevertheless feel free to contact me at
http://bit.ly/askdrneel

I have addressed your main concerns. I am awaiting the relevant medical reports from your end. We have in house cardiologists on our team. And if, analysis of these reports could reassure you further, I would see no issues in walking the extra mile for you.

Take care,
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Medical Consultant
healthcaremagic.com
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 532 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Does An Abnormal EKG Report After An Anxiety Attack Indicate?

Brief Answer: Troubling EKG issues? You can feel confident to take this and get better... Detailed Answer: Dear "XXXX", I am Dr. Neel Kudchadkar and I'll help you out with your issues. Let me say, before we begin, that I sincerely appreciate your eye for detail, in supplying meticulous clinical and technical information about what happened today, "the anxiety attack", and pointers to tests done in the past. It really was helpful. While Metformin and Ubiquinone are quite powerful medications in resolving PCOS I would say that these drugs never had, have or will have a "side effect" that causes anxiety or panic attacks. At worst, PCOS may cause subtle mood alterations, and as you probably know, we want to stop anxiety attacks from occuring. An anxiety attack is a really unpleasant experience. And what makes it more irritating is when the "white coats" pronounce, "Oh, it's nothing, just chill." I disagree. Dear Catc20, I would politely ask you to visit an empathetic local doctor and he or she would prescribe you a very low dose of a medicine called "Buspirone". In all probabilty you'll need to take it for week or so. Buspirone goes down very well with both Metformin and Ubiquinone, so we have no issues there. Buspirone has other nice effects as well, on blood pressure and the like. There are a other short term, low dose "meds" that can be taken for this, I'm sincerely interested in the anxiety attack that took place today, and what can be done to prevent it from ever happening again. If you could recall anything, that could help our case further, kindly feel free to contact me. It's OK. Be happy :). Dr. Neel Kudchadkar Medical Consultant healthcaremagic.com