The Meal Test in Clinical Electrocardiography

Abstract

The fact that all ordinary meal induces definite changes in the electrocardiogram suggested the possible utility of a meal test as a mild and convenient form of stress in clinical work. Comparison of normal persons and cardiac patients revealed frequent significant electrocardiographic differences in the response to a meal. This was especially notable in patients with proved or suspected coronary insufficiency. It appeared that the incidence of abnormal responses to the meal increased with the clinical degree of cardiac involvement The response of the T wave was most frequently aberrant in patients.