4 ms·

I have a heart abnormality that shows up as an inverted T-wave on an echo cardiogram. Some physicians will immediately think I'm having some sort of heart attac

by oooyay 2y ago

I have a heart abnormality that shows up as an inverted T-wave on an echo cardiogram. Some physicians will immediately think I'm having some sort of heart attack, though I display no symptoms. It's actually that my heart fills fully and empties fully in a single cycle. I'm not a medical professional, so all I have are laymans explanations, but what it means is that my heart beats less frequently but stronger than the average heart. It was documented thoroughly throughout my time in the Marines and a cardiologist suggested it wasn't a defect. My heart rate remains much lower than other peoples when under stress and my heart rate at rest is only slightly lower than an average persons. When I asked him what all that meant he suggested that I probably won't die of anything heart related, but my body is otherwise normal.

bluesroo 2y ago
If you don't mind me asking, what is your blood pressure with this abnormality? My gut feeling would be that it you have a much larger gap between your systolic and diastolic numbers than average?
- oooyay 2y ago
  It's actually less of a difference, I think. Systolic hovers around 110-115 and diastolic is anywhere from 80-90.
lz400 2y ago
It almost sounds like an advantage? like, a positive mutation? does it allow you to push further while exercising?
- rbanffy 2y ago
  If that's the case, I suggest having as many kids as partner will allow.
- gadders 2y ago
  I was thinking that. Sounds like the OP has evolved.
starspangled 2y ago
So you're basically running a 2-stroke heart?
rbanffy 2y ago
I would guess that, all things remaining the same, you'll have a life a lot longer than most people. I wonder if that behaviour could be induced in a normal heart, as it looks like it's a timing thing.
- Workaccount2 2y ago
  My guess was the opposite, that it would lead to scarring and eventual heart failure. Many top athletes end up with scarring on their heart from chronically working it so hard. My completely uneducated guess would be that the single power pulse would be a constant source of high impulse strain on the heart muscle, compared to two lower power pulses.

by oooyay 2y ago

bluesroo 2y ago

If you don't mind me asking, what is your blood pressure with this abnormality? My gut feeling would be that it you have a much larger gap between your systolic and diastolic numbers than average?

oooyay 2y ago
It's actually less of a difference, I think. Systolic hovers around 110-115 and diastolic is anywhere from 80-90.

lz400 2y ago

It almost sounds like an advantage? like, a positive mutation? does it allow you to push further while exercising?

rbanffy 2y ago
If that's the case, I suggest having as many kids as partner will allow.
gadders 2y ago
I was thinking that. Sounds like the OP has evolved.

starspangled 2y ago

So you're basically running a 2-stroke heart?

rbanffy 2y ago

I would guess that, all things remaining the same, you'll have a life a lot longer than most people. I wonder if that behaviour could be induced in a normal heart, as it looks like it's a timing thing.

Workaccount2 2y ago
My guess was the opposite, that it would lead to scarring and eventual heart failure. Many top athletes end up with scarring on their heart from chronically working it so hard. My completely uneducated guess would be that the single power pulse would be a constant source of high impulse strain on the heart muscle, compared to two lower power pulses.