Inverted T wave

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I went to get my physical last week and the EKG shows an inverted T wave. I know what that can potentially mean, but all of the. possible issues that could cause that have some degree of heart failure to them. I do not have heart failure. I run a few times a week for a mile in 9 minutes. If I pushed myself I could pass a PT test for an 18 year old in the army. I am not marathon runner, but I certainly don't get winded going up the stairs. In addition I have a good amount of muscle on me. Right now I can bench press over 200lbs. I don't get chest pains upon exertion.

My question is what could be causing an inverted T wave? I had heard that sometimes there is no corresponding ailment, it just is what it is.

I am in my mid 40's and weight 210lbs at 5'7. Now before you jump to the overweight conclusion a significant part of my weight is muscle. I do not have a six pack, but my body fat is 24% which isn't horrible.

The inverted T wave was spotted years ago before I really knew what it could potentially mean. I was about to start nursing school (which stopped me from going to the gym) and was at the height of me working out. I ran between 2-4 miles 4 days a week at a pace of 7 minutes and 30 seconds per mile. My weight was 198lbs, and I had a 17% body fat. My max. bench press was 375 lbs. The reason I had an EKG done than was unrelated to any heart problems (I was bitten by a poisonous insect). I am speculating that perhaps my running may have caused this, because while I did not run marathons I pushed as hard as I could every time I ran. For a regular runner that wouldn't be a big deal, but normal runners weigh at least 50lbs less than what I did. Muscle or fat, the heart still has to push blood through it.

The original doctor years ago talked to me and was not worried about it, so I had forgotten about it. The NP who did my physical set up a stress test for me. What gets me is I can not come up with a patho that explains it. Any ideas?

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Pretty sure you are about to get "we can't give medical advice". That is kind of a common theme around here. Something about TOS.

A question about what causes your T-waves is a medical question, A question about causes of T-waves in general might be a nursing question.

Anyhow- all kinds of things can cause flipped Ts. Here are about a dozen causes.

But, you have the advantage- rather than relying on DR Google, or a bunch of nurses, you get your own cardiologist, who is well prepared for just this sort of question.

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Pretty sure you are about to get "we can't give medical advice". That is kind of a common theme around here. Something about TOS.

That's correct. One of the things we agree to when we sign up here is to neither give nor request medical advice. For AN, there are clearly very good reasons for this policy.

And I agree that the OP will get the best information from a physician with relevant training who knows the OP's current condition and past medical history.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

Talk to your PCP. TOS aside, we really don't know anything about you, your health history, comorbid problems, etc. See your doctor and he/she can, based on what he/she knows about, narrow down what may be causing the flipped T waves.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I am in a research study (long term; >7 years) and I get an EKG every year. I, too, have in inverted T wave and zero hx of any kind of cardiac issues. I have not done much research as to why there might be a "false" indicator of some issue. No advice, just sharing that I have the same issue. (54, DM2 no BP issues or any cardiac meds)

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I am in a research study (long term; >7 years) and I get an EKG every year. I, too, have in inverted T wave and zero hx of any kind of cardiac issues. I have not done much research as to why there might be a "false" indicator of some issue. No advice, just sharing that I have the same issue. (54, DM2 no BP issues or any cardiac meds)

Thanks,

I was just looking to see if an inverted T wave could be benign. I am going to have it checked out either way, but because I do not present with the usual things that come with a T wave inversion I was curious if this may all be much ado about nothing. So I guess instead of writing a small book about it, I should have just asked if it is possible.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

As other posters have stated, we can't provide the advice you seek. Please talk to either the NP ordering the stress test or yur PCP.

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