Heart failure or bradycardia?

[Lydia1960]

Just wondering if these two diseases can go undetected when all tests have come back clear- 24 hour ecg monitoring test, few normal ecgs, echocardiogram. Could it be possible that these tests were 'acceptable', but only just passing this assessment?

[Fiona_BHF]

Hi Lydia1960,

Thanks for your post. Heart Failure and Bradycardia would be checked for differently. Heart Failure would usually be detected from an echocardiogram as this assess the hearts structure and function. (Although other signs of heart failure can sometimes be seen on an ECG or through certain blood tests ).

Bradycardia would be seen on an ECG but may not necessarily be occurring during the time that the 24 hour ECG monitor was on.

Please see further information on our website:-

bhf.org.uk/heart-health/con...

bhf.org.uk/

or feel free to call our Heart Helpline Nurses on 03003303311

[Lydia1960 in reply to Fiona_BHF]

Checked out that page. Just to clarify things. The main symptoms of heart failure are:- shortness of breath(pronounced? Because I do get a bit winded when exercising), swelling of feet, ankles, stomach, lower back areas(is this symptom a given to recognising this disease? I don't have this, so is that a good sign?), feeling tired, weak(which I am experiencing, but am on some drugs that can cause this and have had chronic stress for years now, which is what the doctors are suggesting all my symptoms are originating from this..)...

[Judith_BHF in reply to Lydia1960]

Hi Lydia. Yes the symptoms of heart failure can be shortness of breath, swelling of legs and abdomen and fatigue. But some people have no symptoms. As you say, it can be due to other reasons such as side effect of medications. An Echocardiogram gives a definite diagnosis of heart failure. So it is positive that you have been told you do not have heart failure. Please call the help line if you would like to chat a nurse.

[Lydia1960 in reply to Judith_BHF]

Thanks for that reassurance. Just wondering about bradycardia. Would this have been definitely confirmed by an echocardiogram or 24 hour monitoring ecg device? Or is there a specific test that would rule this out?

[Judith_BHF in reply to Lydia1960]

When having an Echocardiogram, it looks at your heart rate at that time. It would definitely show if you had bradycardia but specifically at that time only. The 24 hour ECG would definitely have the result of your heart rate during that period. In the summary of the report it would say if you had periods of bradycardia. These are both accurate tests. But a persons heart rate is continually changing, which is normal. Sometimes maybe lower than others depending on many variables such as dehydration etc.

[Lydia1960 in reply to Judith_BHF]

From what has been specified on this thread, it seems the likelihood of me having heart failure or bradycardia is very remote. It does puzzle me, though, that I do get quite a few readings of below 60bpm going down to under 50bpm at times. Not quite sure what that is all about?