Q. Can Angina be seen on ECG?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Yes, angina can be seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG). An ECG is a test that measures the electrical activity of your heart. It is used to detect any irregularities in the rhythm and rate of your heartbeat, or any possible issues with the structure of your heart muscle. When someone has angina, their ECG may show evidence for it including ST segment depression or elevation. ST depression happens when there isn’t enough blood flow to the heart muscle due to arterial narrowing caused by coronary artery disease. This leads to a decrease in voltage on the ECG compared to normal readings during rest and exercise stress testing. Another indicator can be T wave inversion which occurs when there is decreased oxygen delivery leading to slowed electrical transmission and subsequent steeper peak-to-trough ratio as seen on an ECG. Angina can also be associated with elevated blood pressure and an increase in QRS width--both of which can also be detected on an ECG reading.