Certified EkG technician (CET) Practice Exam

What do elevated ST segments observed during a stress test indicate?

1. Normal heart activity

2. Signs of acute myocardial injury

3. Benign early repolarization

4. Ischemia with no clinical significance

The correct answer is: Signs of acute myocardial injury

Elevated ST segments observed during a stress test are indicative of acute myocardial injury. This is particularly important in the context of assessing cardiovascular health, as an elevation in the ST segment often suggests that the heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen due to blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. During a stress test, the heart is put under increased workload, and if there is an oxygen supply-demand mismatch, it can lead to changes such as ST segment elevation. In the clinical setting, the identification of elevated ST segments prompts further investigation and management, as it can signal underlying conditions that require intervention, such as coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction. This contrasts with other options, where normal heart activity, benign early repolarization, or ischemia without clinical significance would not typically be associated with ST segment elevation in a pathological sense. Understanding this provides crucial insight into the types of abnormalities that can arise from stress testing and highlights the significance of ST segment changes in cardiac health assessment.