ECG

[A_fi_bR]

Just did another Kardia test and it’s come back as sinus bradycardia with abnormal qrs. should I go back to GP and get it checked out properly or not?

[stevejb1810]

Why did you go to the expense of buying the Kardia App, do you know you have a heart related condition? You said ‘go back to my GP’, by inference you have been before, that being the case, what did they say then? If they said you are fine, then put the app away.

Do you take any medication to lower your heart rate? Are you fit, active and healthy if so then this is very possibly why your heart rate is low (fit athletes have slow heart rates).

If the answer to any or all of these is no, then a trip to your GP would be on the cards.

[A_fi_bR in reply to stevejb1810]

Oops. Some background info would be helpful! Sorry about that. It’s because I posted recently in the hypertension

Forum.

Ive been diagnosed with hypertension and mild lvh as a complication. I also have sinus bradycardia and get a lot of ectopic beats both atrial and ventricular along with very fast beat runs of maybe 10 seconds or so but not as frequently as the single extra beats with a pause. I take amlopidine and advice is to go back to GP if I start passing out. But the heartbeats feel like they might have changed a bit and the last Kardia reading seems to have confirmed what I’m feeling. But my GP is dismissive of the Kardia. Last 24 hr ECG came back as “nothing significant”. So I feel like something’s different but am also hesitant about wasting GP time. I’m at that stage of just leaving it unless it’s an emergency.

[stevejb1810 in reply to A_fi_bR]

Hi. Thanks for filling in the blanks. From other replies to questions about ectopic beats and the experience my wife has, they can be somewhat disconcerting but are not in themselves, a major cause for concern. So I’d not worry unduly about those for now. Sinus bradycardia just means you have a slow heartbeat - so how slow is slow - my resting heart rate is typically 50 (beta blockers tend to keep it there. Who read you ecg? If it was you GP then I think I’d be asking for a cardiologist appointment. If it was a cardiologist, then try and relax and not keep using the Kardia - worry will only make matters worse. The reason your GP might seem dismissive is that he/she is not familiar with the Kardia and probably does not trust it and they are holding an ECG report - something he/she will be very familiar with - saying ‘nothing significant.’

Having said all of this don’t lie around and until it gets worse. You can insist on a cardiology appointment, better still, if can afford it, you can pay for a private appointment. It might be worth the £200 or so for peace of mind.

Steve

[A_fi_bR]

Thanks Steve. My HR is about 50 average also though it has dropped as low as 37. There’s just lots of little things still happening that I thought might have been more resolved by the blood pressure treatment. Hope you can understand my nervousness.

[Emily_BHF]

Hi Garryarry,

Sinus bradycardia is a regular, but unusually slow heart beat (50 beats/minute or less at rest). Sinus bradycardia can be the result of many things including good physical fitness, medications, and some forms of heart block. "Sinus" refers to the sinus node, the heart's natural pacemaker which creates the normal regular heartbeat. "Bradycardia" means that the heart rate is slower than normal.

Abnormal QRS complexes are produced by abnormal depolarization of the ventricles. Duration of an abnormal QRS complex is greater than 0.12 seconds. This may not be anything to be concerned with and it is important that a healthcare professional assesses it properly with you.

I would recommend discussing this with your GP to get some clarification and/or reassurance.

Take care,

Emily

[A_fi_bR in reply to Emily_BHF]

Thanks Emily, I also felt like passing out again this morning. Will definitely get it all checked out.

[A_fi_bR in reply to Emily_BHF]

Just out of interest Emily, do you know what the BHFs view on the Kardia device is? Given that the paid reviews are meant to be done by “uk based cardiologists” at £5 a go, one would assume they would carry a little bit of weight when the result comes back as “get this looked at properly”? It is confirming that what I’m feeling isn’t right. Maybe I’m just not explaining that to my GP. It’s not just the device’s automatic reading, I’m paying someone to assess it. I do also understand it’s no substitute for a proper ECG but as an early warning indicator surely it’s better than nothing?

[Emily_BHF]

Hi Garryarry,

We do not endorse products and it is only through having a proper assessment at your GP you will determine whether you need any further tests/treatment.

Take care,

Emily

[A_fi_bR in reply to Emily_BHF]

No problem and thanks again. I’m booked in with GP next week.

[A_fi_bR]

So a month later and still waiting for an appointment. I guess that answers my question as to whether I'm in a potentially dangerous situation then. That'll be a no then. Which is good!!!