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What Does Elevated Heart Rate And Dizziness Indicate?

Posted on Fri, 6 Feb 2015

Question: Hello - I had an elevated heart rate, some dizziness and went to the ER where an ekg was performed. I was referred to a cardiologist and am awaiting that appointment. I have attached the the written ekg report but the graph was not available. I am interested in the meaning of the report and what to expect next.

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Probably normal variant!?

Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic

The report is not alarming …
The anomaly report is due to Left Anterior Fascicular Block (LAFB / also known as LAH). This simply means the electrical axis in that particular plane (Frontal) is leftward – a bit more than statistical observations…
This could be a normal variant / enlargement of the left sided ventricle (lower chamber) – say from blood pressure / a defect in the conduction system – delay in the speed of impulse transmission – there are right and left bundles; the left bundle has anterior (front) and posterior (behind) branches (Fascicles)

EKG is only a record of electrical activity.
It is only a basic investigation and needs to be interpreted in the light of total clinical picture
You may need to repeat EKG / do ECHOcardiogram / at times, more depending on their results
The very fact that you were discharged from the ER denotes, there is probably nothing serious or urgent. I feel it is a normal variation…
Follow up with your cardiologist – more to exclude anything / to rule out rather than rule in / for your satisfaction as well as the satisfaction of the treating physician

Good luck
God bless you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (20 minutes later)

Thank you for the detailed reply. I omitted to say my dizziness and elevated heart rate has come and gone for 3 weeks. This is why I went to the er. Is there any connection to the ekg and my symptoms. Lastly, the findings indicate the left branch issue noted. Is that serious?

Thank you again - this is a wonderful service.

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Not likely to be serious or related

Detailed Answer:
Hi

This EKG finding is most likely NOT related to the symptoms.
This by itself is NOT serious / the outcome depends on the cause and associated problems

     The body's balancing mechanism is in the inner ear. An ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialist is the one to see first in case of dizziness - they have special tests to confirm or exclude the contribution of the ear. This is particularly important in the presence of tinnitus (ringing in the ears). The heart rate may be a secondary to dizziness – either may cause the other…

     If the ear is excluded, and giddiness is the major symptom, you have to be seen by a neurologist. MRI (&/or MRA - MRI angiography) may be needed, at times.

     If there are no clues, you have to be investigated by a Cardiologist! HOLTER (24 to 48 hour ambulatory monitoring – for arrhythmia) / ECHOcardiogram (for clot) / TMT (Treadmill exercise ECG – for ischemia) / LABORATORY work-up – may all be necessary for further assessment and assistance... generally to exclude rather than entertain possibilities

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar