New Heart Monitor Offers Hope for Accurate Diagnosis of Blackouts

Many patients are wrongly diagnosed with epilepsy, like Maria Shepherd, who suffered blackouts for years despite epilepsy treatment. A new monitor helps cardiologists find the real cause: heart issues. The monitor, implanted under the skin, records ECGs for up to 18 months. It reveals that 20-30% of epilepsy diagnoses are incorrect. Maria was correctly diagnosed and fitted with a pacemaker, ending her blackouts.

What was the initial condition Maria Shepherd was treated for?

• Hypertension

• Heart disease

• Epilepsy

• Diabetes

What does the new monitor help cardiologists to discover?

• The level of blood sugar

• The cause of heart attacks

• The reason for blackouts

• The presence of tumors

How long can the new monitor record an ECG?

• 6 months

• 12 months

• 18 months

• 24 months

What percentage of patients diagnosed with epilepsy might not actually have it?

• 10-15%

• 60-70%

• 20-30%

• 40-50%

What treatment did Maria receive after her correct diagnosis?

• Antibiotics

• Heart pacemaker

• Chemotherapy

• Insulin therapy