Are EKG Machines really the best way to diagnose LVH?

EKG machines are used to measure the electrical signals of the heart, but these electrical measurements can often be misleading. This is especially true when EKG machines are used to diagnose left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). In most cases, doctors need to order more tests before coming to a final diagnosis of this disorder.

According to a recent study by the Henry Ford Medical Center, up to 82 percent of patients who were screened with an EKG machine test received a false positive reading and about 7 percent were given a false negative result. This study was conducted with a control group of 500 patients.

When study researchers analyzed the EKG data against other test results, they found that CT scans were a better predictor of the disease. This is because a CT scan takes a series of images of the heart, while EKG /ECG machines only measure the electrical activity. Once a diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is evident, patients are usually given additional testing, such as an echo-cardiogram and an MRI scan.

LVH causes a thickening of the heart’s lower left chamber, and is usually caused by another medical condition, like hypertension, but unfortunately the disorder is often misdiagnosed or undetectable until it has significantly progressed.

Further research must be done to determine the best method of testing for LVH, because it can be serious. People with LVH are often more susceptible to other cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, myocardial infractions, stroke and abnormal heart rhythms.

Technorati Tags: ECG Machines, ekg machine, EKG Machines