Ask a Texas Heart Institute Doctor
Informed patients make better patients.
Question:
Can nervousness affect an EKG?
I had an EKG in my doctor's office. The doctor's staff had trouble getting lead #1 to stay attached to my chest and a little trouble with two more leads. I have claustrophobia and almost could not finish the EKG. I think the test took about fifteen minutes. The test showed that I had left bundle block. Could this be a false reading due to my being very nervous?
submitted by Dan from Baltimore, MD on 2/4/2014
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Maher M. Nasser, MD
Dear Dan,
No, being nervous does not cause left bundle branch block. It may, however, show minor artifacts. Regards,
See also on this site:
Has your question or a similar one already been answered?
Search all the Heart Doctor questions and answers.
To search for a doctor or access St. Luke's physician referral service, use the "Find a Doctor" link at the top of this page.
Updated February 2014
