Electrocardiogram

The electrocardiogram, also referred to as EKG, ECG, or 12-lead ECG, is a non-invasive diagnostic test that evaluates your heart's electrical system to assess for heart disease. It uses flat metal electrodes placed on your chest to detect the electrical activity of your heart as it beats, which is then graphed. An ECG is also required prior to any type of heart surgery, including surgery for pacemaker placement. A pre-operative ECG is also needed before any surgical procedure that involves general anesthesia because heart disease increases the risk of adverse events from anesthesia. The screening also helps your anesthesiologists as they plan your anesthetic medications and surgical monitoring. Conditions There are a number of conditions that can be detected when your healthcare provider checks your pulse, such as tachycardia (rapid heart rate), bradycardia (slow heart rate), and arrhythmia (irregular heart rate). EKG wave patterns can verify these alterations in your heart rhythm, and certain changes in the shape of the waves provides information about the specific type of heart disease and which region in the heart is affected. • The ECG reveals the heart rate and rhythm only during the few seconds it takes to record the tracing. If an arrhythmia (heart rhythm irregularity) occurs only intermittently, an ECG might not pick it up, and • The ECG is often normal or nearly normal with many types of heart disease, such as • Sometimes, abnormalities that appear on the ECG turn...

Electrocardiogram An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) records the electrical signal from the heart to check for different heart conditions. Electrodes are placed on the chest to record the heart's electrical signals, which cause the heart to beat. The signals are shown as waves on an attached computer monitor or printer. An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in the heart. It's a common and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor the heart's health. An electrocardiogram — also called ECG or EKG— is often done in a health care provider's office, a clinic or a hospital room. ECG machines are standard equipment in operating rooms and ambulances. Some personal devices, such as smartwatches, offer ECG monitoring. Ask your health care provider if this is an option for you. • • Why it's done An electrocardiogram is a painless, noninvasive way to help diagnose many common heart problems. A health care provider might use an electrocardiogram to determine or detect: • Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) • If blocked or narrowed arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease) are causing chest pain or a heart attack • Whether you have had a previous heart attack • How well certain heart disease treatments, such as a pacemaker, are working You may need an ECG if you have any of the following signs and symptoms: • Chest pain • Dizziness, lightheadedness or confusion • Heart palpitations • Rapid pulse • Shortness of breath • Weakness, fatigue or a de...

Electrocardiogram (ECG) What is Electrocardiogram (ECG)? An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a graphic record produced by an electrocardiograph that provides details about one’s heart rate and rhythm and any other related abnormalities; it depicts if the heart has enlarged due to hypertension (high blood pressure) or evidence of a myocardial infarction previously (heart attack if any). Electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the most common and effective tests for all drugs. It is easy to perform, non-invasive, yields outcomes instantly and is useful to identify hundreds of heart conditions. ECGs from healthy hearts have a distinct, characteristic shape. Any inconsistency in the rhythm of the heart or damage to the heart muscle can alter the heart’s electrical activity thereby changing the shape on the ECG. Table of Content: • • • • • • ECG Test ECG test can be used to check the rhythm of the heart and the electrical movement. The electrical signals are detected due to the attachment of the sensors to the skin which are generated as and when the heart beats. These signals are recorded by the machine and examined by a medical practitioner for an unusual signs. Who is recommended an ECG test? ECG test is a common measure in monitoring the health of those diagnosed with heart ailments to aid in assessing the artificial cardiac pacemakers or in detecting the effects of some medications on the vital organ – the heart. Doctor suggests ECG for those who are at a risk of heart diseases (famil...

An electrocardiogram is a simple, painless test that measures your heart’s electrical activity. It’s also known as an ECG or EKG. Every heartbeat is triggered by an electrical signal that starts at the top of your heart and travels to the bottom. Heart problems often affect the heart’s electrical activity. An EKG records a picture of your heart’s electrical activity while you’re being monitored. Your doctor may recommend an EKG if you’re experiencing symptoms or signs that may suggest a • pain in your chest • trouble breathing • feeling tired or weak • pounding, racing, or fluttering of your heart • a feeling that your heart is beating unevenly • detection of unusual sounds when your doctor listens to your heart Measuring the electrical activity of the heart may help your doctor determine if chambers of the heart are possibly too large or overworked. In other cases, an EKG can help determine the cause of your symptoms along with what type of treatment might be necessary. If you have a There are different types of EKG. Some heart problems come and go. In these cases, you may need longer or more specialized monitoring. Stress test Some heart problems only appear during exercise. During Holter monitor Also known as an ambulatory ECG or EKG monitor, a Event recorder Symptoms that don’t happen very often may require an event recorder. It’s like a Holter monitor, but it records your heart’s electrical activity just when symptoms occur. Some event recorders activate automatically...

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test that checks the structure and function of your heart. An echo can diagnose a range of conditions including cardiomyopathy and valve disease. There are several types of echo tests, including transthoracic and transesophageal. Talk with your provider about the type that’s best for you. Overview What is an echocardiogram? An echocardiogram (echo) is a graphic outline of your heart’s movement. During an echo test, your healthcare provider uses ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves) from a hand-held wand placed on your chest to take pictures of your heart’s valves and chambers. This helps the provider evaluate the pumping action of your heart. Providers often combine echo with Doppler ultrasound and color Doppler techniques to evaluate blood flow across your heart’s valves. Echocardiography uses no radiation. This makes an echo different from other tests like X-rays and CT scans that use small amounts of radiation. Who performs an echo test? A technician called a cardiac sonographer performs your echo. They’re trained in performing echo tests and using the most current technology. They’re prepared to work in a variety of settings including hospital rooms and catheterization labs. What are the different types of echocardiogram? There are several types of echocardiogram. Each one offers unique benefits in diagnosing and managing heart disease. They include: • • • What techniques are used in echocardiography? Several techniques can be used ...

What is an electrocardiogram? An electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the simplest and fastest tests used to evaluate the heart. Electrodes (small, plastic patches that stick to the skin) are placed at certain spots on the chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes are connected to an ECG machine by lead wires. The electrical activity of the heart is then measured, interpreted, and printed out. No electricity is sent into the body. Natural electrical impulses coordinate contractions of the different parts of the heart to keep blood flowing the way it should. An ECG records these impulses to show how fast the heart is beating, the rhythm of the heart beats (steady or irregular), and the strength and timing of the electrical impulses as they move through the different parts of the heart. Changes in an ECG can be a sign of many heart-related conditions. Why might I need an electrocardiogram? Some reasons for your doctor to request an electrocardiogram (ECG) include: • To look for the cause of chest pain • To evaluate problems which may be heart-related, such as severe tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting • To identify irregular heartbeats • To help determine the overall health of the heart before procedures such as surgery; or after treatment for conditions such as a heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI), endocarditis (inflammation or infection of one or more of the heart valves); or after heart surgery or cardiac catheterization • To see how an implanted pace...

An electrocardiogram (EKG) measures the electrical activity of the heart. An irregular heart rate, changes in the shape or structure of the heart, or an electrolyte imbalance are some factors that can affect the result. Sometimes, an abnormal EKG reading is actually just a normal variation in a person’s heart rhythm. In other cases, it may be due to an underlying condition of the heart or a reaction to a medication the person is taking. An EKG reading is a helpful diagnostic tool. Once a doctor has identified the underlying condition, they can suggest appropriate treatment. Share on Pinterest An EKG can help visualize the electrical activity of the heart. To many people, an EKG is just a series of lines. However, each line corresponds to an electrical signal sent from the heart. Doctors know how to read and interpret these lines, which gives them a sense of the overall state of the heart. The administering doctor or healthcare professional will attach electrodes to a person’s skin, typically at 10 different points around their chest and on the limbs. Each heartbeat sends out an electrical impulse. These electrodes pick up this impulse and record the activity in a wave form on a graph. All of this happens in the blink of an eye, which is why an EKG is so important. An EKG can catch all of these tiny details and record them for a doctor to analyze. An abnormal EKG means that there is something unexpected in the EKG reading. This is not always a sign of an unhealthy heart. Fo...

Echocardiogram An echocardiogram uses sound waves to show how blood flows through the heart and heart valves. Sensors attached to the chest and sometimes the legs check the heart rhythm during the test. The test can help a health care provider diagnose heart conditions. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. This common test can show blood flow through the heart and heart valves. Your health care provider can use the pictures from the test to find heart disease and other heart conditions. Other names for this test are: Why it's done An echocardiogram is done to look for heart problems. The test shows how blood moves through the heart chambers and heart valves. Your health care provider may order this test if you have chest pain or shortness of breath. Types of echocardiograms There are different types of echocardiograms. The type you have depends on the information your health care provider needs. • Transthoracic echocardiogram, also called a TTE. This is a standard echocardiogram. It's also called a heart ultrasound. It's a noninvasive way to look at blood flow through the heart and heart valves. A TTE creates pictures of the heart from outside the body. Dye, called contrast, may be given by IV. It helps the heart's structures show up better on the images. • Transesophageal echocardiogram, also called a TEE. If a standard echocardiogram doesn't provide as many details as needed, your provider may do this test. It gives a detailed look at the h...

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