slo’s WEDNESDAY 11/12 poll - EKG

[slo]

Yesterday I had my first EKG done during an exam to release me for my upcoming foot surgery. The nurse that did my EKG was really surprised that I never had one done. She said that normally when someone is my age, they’ve already had one or two. I was instantly curious if she was correct with this, so I decided to do a poll today to find out. Before we get started, here’s some info on EKGs for those that don’t know much about them…..




Now that we learned a little about EKGs, let’s find out if you’ve had an EKG by the time you were my age, which is 53. So give us your best heartbeat answer today….


Did you have an EKG done before your 53rd birthday?
If yes…..when was your first EKG?
(multiple choice)



For Me……As I mentioned above, my first one was yesterday. If my DD22 was answering this poll, she’d say her first one was done when she was in middle school - I think she was about 12. Then another one done when she was 19 when she went to the ER with a blood pressure of 170/120. I’ve never ever had a blood pressure problem, which I’m grateful for. I have to start seeing a Cardiologist next month due to some other issues, so I may be getting EKGs done yearly now, which is ok, it was easy and painless.

The below was my EKG result

 

[Kitty 34]

I've had several done in a routine visit probably starting in my 50's.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I probably I had my first one as a young teen. I was diagnosed with a slight heart murmur, so I expect that was part of the testing.

 

[prairie_girl]

Yes, I’ve had a few and my first was probably between the ages of 30-39. My latest one was three weeks ago to make sure I was good for surgery later that day..I was.

 

[MGMmjl]

My family doctor does an EKG as part of their annual checkup. I had my first one around age 35.

 

[TippyThomas]

I've had them done in the workup they do prior to surgery. Seems the older I get, the more surgery I get, so I've had a few now.

 

[Rogue1677x]

First one was around 7 years old for heart murmur work up. Since then I've had roughly 25 or so due to cardiac concerns over the years, including the stress test, wearing the holter monitor, etc.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I had a stress EKG when I was approximately 50. I can't remember my exact age. I had to run on a treadmill during the EKG. I had been training for a half marathon at the time, and I aced the test. The technician remarked on how fast my heartbeat returned to normal.

I was over 70 years old for before my second EKG.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I’ve had several that when I was little I don’t think I had one they were checking for a heart murmur when I was four and back in the Stone Age but I’ve had one almost every time I’ve had surgery and my last surgery I got to do the stress test and all kinds of other things because somebody read the EKG wrong which triggered a whole bunch of more test for them to figure out that they read the EKG wrong but it’s good to know that everything is in good working order

 

[ronandannette]

Yes, I’ve had a few and my first was probably between the ages of 30-39. My latest one was three weeks ago to make sure I was good for surgery later that day..I was.

I’ve had lots, including stress tests and non-stress tests, cardiac ultrasound and have been monitored by a Holter device several times. I honestly can’t even remember when the first time was, or exactly why. Nothing requiring medication or treatment has ever turned up.

 

[clappyclaps]

I've had one, think I was in my late 20s. Passed out one morning and ended up in hospital due to a potential head injury, and for some reason they did an EKG.

 

[lynxstch]

I never had my first one until I was 69

 

[Micca]

I've had two or three, probably started in my 50s. All med tests should be so easy

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I’ve had a few but can’t remember the first one. I’m thinking it was in my 40s when my heart felt like it was taking an extra beat. I had a Holter device for a few days and went through a stress test. Turns out, I needed to cut back on my caffeine and the issue resolved. I had another one in the ER when I had my gallbladder out in 2023. My doctor does not routinely do them though.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I had one at age 43 because I had been having chest pains. It was just my RA though.

I may have had one when I was pregnant (at 32) but that time was such a blur. I just vaguely remember something like an EKG at an appointment when I was having some issues.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I had to have one in my late 40s, after my cancer diagnosis, as part of my surgical prep.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I’m in my 60’s and have never had one.

 

[The Mayor]

My primary care doctor does one during my annual physical. Think it started when I turned 40.

 

[elgerber]

I am 56 and I have to get them twice a year. I have had them regularly for 12 years, and had a few sporadically in the years prior.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I think it was in my early 20's, just part of my annual physical. So probably 60 or more years ago. I recall back then that the test took maybe 10 minutes. The tech/nurse would hook me up, same 12 lead as now, and say, I'll be back in a bit. They'd come back in about 10 minutes. Printout was dot matrix, not thermal like now. Today they take about 30 seconds, if that. With my current cardiac issues, probaby twice a year, along with a myriad of other tests, stress, echo, etc.