What does ST/T wave changes mean on an EKG?
ST/T wave changes can range from being an important sign of underlying disease to a variant of normality. ECG reports printed out by machines are prone to over-report features, and physicians certainly do not rely on these. The term ‘ST/T wave changes’ is actually quite non-specific – I’ll try to cover the broad types below: Limited ST/T wave changes in the form of inversion or flattening can be normal depending on which leads they are seen in the EKG. Widespread changes are always abnormal, and a referral for further evaluation is certainly appropriate. ST/T wave changes in the form of elevation or depression is usually a sign of abnormal underlying heart tissue, and should prompt further investigation – which would include taking into account your background risks for heart disease such as family history, BMI, smoking, and coexisting medical conditions.
