Has Anyone Had an Exercise ECG?

[shokoden]

I am having one next Friday and was just wondering if anyone else has had one and what is involved?

[Mandie]

Never had one, but I'm a doctor, so I could tell you..

Have you ever had an ordinary ECG? They just put a bunch of stickers on your chest and connect a bunch of leads to it, and get a tracing of the electrical rhythm of your heart. It doesn't hurt at all!

They basically do the same thing but get you walking on a treadmill or riding a bike. They get you to build up gradually until you're working at a reasonable rate, to make sure that the heart is still coping well with the stress. If it brings on pain, or changes in the heart rhythm, then you may have some early heart problems - and then you would need medications. If your heart copes fine with the exercise, that's a very good sign that all is well!

None of this is painful at all, don't worry! You'll be fine

[shokoden]

Thanks Mandie

[ali76]

I LOVE having a doctor on this forum!!

[Mandie]

lol thanks!

blah blah blah DISCLAIMER - if you want real, personalised medical advice, see your own GP. Obviously I cannot diagnose problems or manage medical issues over the Internet. I'm always happy to offer my opinion/advice or just give some general information about various things, but I accept no responsibility blah blah blah DISCLAIMER stuff.

[Butterfly_Dawn]

LOL, love the small print Mandie.

hope it went well shokoden! I've had an ultrasound AND an ECG on my heart due to my GP hearing something weird in my heartbeat and suspecting a heart murmur. Turned out it was nothing, just being fit and a slightly funny shaped valve.

Anyway, my experience of the ECG was fine. Just take your top off, have some sticky things put on and watch the cool squiggly lines follow your heart beat on a monitor. More embarrassing than anything having them playing with your chest area. The ultrasound was better - could see my heart beating away!