Inverted T Waves

I recently had a routine ECG as part of a hospital outpatient assessment of hypertension. During the ECG, the technician noted my
T waves were inverted and asked me to take some deep breaths. (I cant remember whether I was asked to hold the breath for a second or so) and then the T waves normalised. I have since read that T waves can invert if one is hyperventilating. I suffer from anxiety and so I sense I am often partially hyperventilating. At the time I guess the reality of the clinical setting might have affected my breathing patterns. I would be pleased to know what anyone thinks about this ?
I do remember the technician saying that it was a good sign that the breathing request made the T wave normalise. Is this a common technique used when taking ECG if a potential irregularity presents on the emerging patterns on the paper.

On another aspect, I would add that my blood pressure levels are very variable. Doctors seem to chop and change my diagnosis. But I am seeking to have an echocardiogram done for the elimination or identification of LVH but they seem to want to depend only on the ECG which I understand is not so dependable for such purposes .I gather it is good at detecting the hearts functioning but that as Left
Ventricular Hypertrophy concerns "muscular morphology" it is better detected and measured by echocardiogram that is a sort of imaging technique. Should I push for an echo or is it pointless. My BP averages on 24 hr readings ranged between 125 / 93 and lower, one 24 hour set produced a average diastolic of about 83. However my pressures do not drop at night, or drop only marginally. (non dipper) I am not presently taking medication. The hospital doctor decided to classify me as white coat hypertensive. The two previous diagnosis within a 12 month period were Hypertensive, then normotensive. My
CLINIC readings are often higher, with high dioastolics of up to and exceeding 100 and rarely lower than 95. At home. Typical readings are on the high normal to high side . Last night I have several of
167/105. In the night I woke and felt a bit restless and took my pressure which was around 150/98. My medical history suggests I have been borderline/actual hypertensive for perhaps a decade without treatment. I have no known family history, normal/good blood lipid results, I dont smoke. My alcohol consumption is about 28 units a week and so ought to be lowered. I am not diabetic.

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks Andrew Brown

MY ECG can be seen here at http://members.lycos.co.uk/wawel6/ekg1.jpg and http://members.lycos.co.uk/wawel6/Ekg2.jpg The first one shows "inverted T waves" ? and the 2nd one, I was asked to take a deep breath (see the technician noted "Inspir" on the paper

On the 2nd one that instruction seems to have corrected the T wave.

Or so it seems

Thanks Andrew Brown

You would be an excellent candidate for a 24 hour blood pressure monitor.
This is a device that you wear for 24 hours and it takes your blood pressure every 15 minutes, even while you sleep. Talk to your doctor about it.

s promised, MY ECG can be seen here at http://members.lycos.co.uk/wawel6/ekg1.jpg and http://members.lycos.co.uk/wawel6/Ekg2.jpg The first one shows "inverted T waves" ? and the 2nd one, I was asked to take a deep breath (see the technician noted "Inspir" on the paper

On the 2nd one that instruction seems to have corrected the T wave.

Or so it seems .

I will post my ECG on a webpage perhaps with some other clinical information as soon as I get a moment and then posters can have a look .

Thank you to all who replied to my submission. The issue of a referal to a cardiologist has become one of conflict between me and my primary care practitioner. Originally, I was sent to a "nephrologist" for request with help in my case management (despite my normal kidney function) and with a request for an echo in view of the inverted T waves and voltage irregularities. The nephrologist organised only the
ECG and the echo was never performed. I want the echo for several reasons. (a) I( know that ECG is not the modality of choice for identification of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy . It is simply nowhere near reliable enough, (b) The drug treatment and other management of my case would be different if it was found that I had clinically significant LVH (c) I should also regard the echo as a good check on aspects of heart function anyway and taken together with the ECG results, the two would give a very good indication of my cardiac risk and good information on which to manage my case
The simple position of my primary care practitioner is that "your clinic ECG was normal" and therefore there is no need for referral for echo.

It is a simplistic retort because of the inherent inefficacy of ECG in the detection of LVH and the questionable status of the EKG which showed T waves that were significantly inverted only to flatten on my being instrusted to breath a particular way. According to my own study, (I accept I am a layperson with no medical skills) inverted T waves are often found but have a great variety of possible explanations, some benign, some more sininster and it is relevant to explore further to try to find out why.

I hope I win my "campaign" for the referal to the cardiologist, it doesnt seem to be asking the earth, even though I know there will be people with more pressingly urgent problems who should be allocated a place in front of mine .