18/01/2026
Many people feel reassured when their ECG and echocardiogram come back normal.
And rightly so. These tests are important and often life-saving.
But here is a truth that needs to be understood clearly.
A normal ECG or echo does not always mean a normal heart.
Heart attacks and sudden cardiac events can still occur even when routine reports look reassuring. Some heart attacks evolve silently. Some dangerous plaques do not affect heart pumping. Some lethal rhythm disturbances happen before any report turns abnormal.
This is why risk factors matter. Diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, abnormal cholesterol, obesity, chronic stress, poor sleep, and family history quietly increase risk over time. One normal report cannot cancel years of accumulated risk.
Most importantly, symptoms must always override reports.
Chest heaviness, breathlessness, sweating, jaw or arm pain, upper abdominal discomfort, or unexplained fatigue should never be ignored, even if recent tests were normal. This is especially true for diabetics, elderly individuals, and healthcare professionals who often delay care.
Heart disease is dynamic. It unfolds over time, not in a single snapshot. Serial evaluation, clinical judgment, and timely action save lives.
A normal report is reassuring.
But it is not a lifetime insurance policy.
Listen to your body.
Act early.
Time saved is heart muscle saved.
– Dr. Abhishek Kasha
