cardiac cripple

A person whose innocent cardiac murmur or normal physiologic variant of an EKG pattern—e.g., ST segment deviation during early repolarization—is misinterpreted as indicating cardiac disease or failure. The ‘cripple’ is advised to restrict his physical activity and/or receives various cardiac drugs

cardiac 'cripple'

A person whose innocent cardiac murmur or normal physiologic variant of an EKG pattern–eg ST segment deviation, such as an early repolarization was misinterpreted as indicating cardiac disease or failure, whose physical activity is subsequently restricted and/or who receives various cardiac drugs. See Innocent murmurs.