Causes of Abnormal EKG

With the alarming rise in heart problems in the recent times, wouldn't it be a great deal to have something that could keep us updated and warn us, in case there was any problem with the heart? Oh, but there is. It's called an Electrocardiogram or EKG (also as ECG). What does an EKG do? An EKG measures the abnormal activities that might take place in the heart and thereby helps to warn us if there are any life-threatening conditions that have been afflicted. In an EKG procedure, the electrical activities of the heart are studied to find out if there is any problem in the transfer of the electrical signals from the upper to the lower chambers of the heart. If the heart is functioning normally, these signals will be measured thus. But if there is any problem in the heart and there are any heart conditions to speak of then the electrical signals will be registered in the EKG and that is what will lead to an abnormal EKG. What exactly causes an abnormal EKG to come about? In the following article we will take you through these causes and help you understand what it can mean.

Abnormal EKG Causes

A doctor might recommend an EKG if there is a family history of heart problems or if a patient exhibits signs of certain heart problems. There could be a number of causes of abnormal EKG that have at their root a malfunctioning of the heart.

Tachycardia
Tachycardia is a condition that is characterized when the heart rate begins to rise and encompasses over 100 beats per minute. This can cause potential danger because it does not allow the heart to pump the blood and oxygen in regular supply and can become fatal as well. It is accompanied by symptoms like chest pain, nausea and dizziness and can then transcend into more serious conditions like ventricular tachycardia and Ventricular fibrillation. In these conditions the blood is pumped at a very slow rate and therefore the ventricles get filled with less or no blood at all. All of which leads to an abnormal EKG.

Heart Attack
Heart attacks occur when the varied parts of the heart do not get enough oxygen due to a blockage in the heart. The blockage occurs due to the formation and continual build up of plaque in the arteries. As a result of this the blood and thereby the oxygen cannot be transported into all the sections of the heart effectively enough. This then results in the parts dying and causing for a heart attack.

Bradycardia
In this condition, the heart beats are recorded lower than 60 heart beats per minute. This then results in improper blood circulation through the body and can therefore lead to insufficient blood supply to the internal organs and the brain. This will then result in an abnormal EKG. This condition is more dangerous for people who are obese.

Other Causes
There are several other causes of an abnormal EKG. Here is a list of some of the main causes of the same:

• Arrhythmia
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart valve disease
• Inflammation of the heart
• Anorexia nervosa
• Hypothyroidism/Hyperthyroidism
• Stress
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Angina

Other than these causes there are several other reasons that can cause for an abnormal EKG result. While some reasons like smoking and stress are no indications of very severe conditions, the others are something that need an intervention at the earliest. The conditions that lead to an abnormal EKG can be dealt with well enough if it is detected early on.