What is a common cause of ST segment depression on an EKG?

ST segment depression on an EKG is primarily associated with myocardial ischemia, which occurs when there is a deficiency of blood flow to the heart muscle. This condition can result from various underlying issues, such as coronary artery disease, angina, or increased cardiac workload, leading to an imbalance between the supply of oxygen and the heart's demand.

When the heart muscle is ischemic, it can lead to alterations in the electrical activity of the myocardium, reflected by downward shifts in the ST segment on an EKG. This depression often indicates that the cardiac tissue is not receiving enough oxygen, and while it might still be viable, it is under metabolic stress.

In contrast, other conditions listed in the options can present differently on an EKG. Myocardial injury typically results in ST segment elevation rather than depression because it signifies that the myocardial cells are undergoing damage from ischemia that has progressed beyond the point of mere ischemic stress. Left ventricular hypertrophy is characterized by changes in the EKG such as tall R waves or notched waves but does not typically cause ST segment depression, rather it may cause repolarization abnormalities. Pericarditis generally presents with ST segment elevation rather than depression due to inflammation of the pericardial sac and associated