Maybe I can answer your last question first. When anyone has a heart attack, some area of their heart was destroyed, or damaged. The damage can range from minimal to massive. Some previous heart attacks do show on an EKG, and some don't, but the week and a half between your 2 EKGs had nothing to do with whether it showed a previous heart attack (MI) or not. They show up years after an mi (myocardial infarction), or they don't. It really depends on the area of the heart affected and to what degree of damage it did.
The best EKGs are performed by a 12 lead electrocardiogram. I doubt yours was this type, because I assume you had it done by your family doc. If they placed 12 electrodes on your body, then it was a 12 lead EKG :)
The results of an EKG are only as good as the tech who takes it, the condition or age of the equipment, and the expertise of the interpreter.
If your first EKG was correct, do not worry! If you had an mi, it was so light that it did not affect you, right? That is, until someone spooked you. Then the chest pain started which is normal. Your anxiety can cause chest pain.
I am very surprised that your doctor told you about
this, without explaing the "rest of the story". Cardiologist go out of their way to hide the bad stuff from us sometimes, because they know about
the power of the mind. Especially when the "mind" hears it from a doctor.
I had an mi 3 years ago. Since then I have seen many cardiologist and had many EKGs. I have asked different docs if they can look at my EKG results and tell if I have had a heart attack. Some have said yes and some have said no. Go figure, lol.
Just follow up on this. I read yesterday that less than 30% of women who arrive at a hospital, and are having an mi, complain of chest pain. This was from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Rj
Post Edited (Aldo) : 4/6/2006 11:01:15 AM (GMT-6)