Scribd
Upload
20 views5 pages

What is an electrocardiogram

Uploaded by

shockwaveryft
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
20 views5 pages

What is an electrocardiogram

Uploaded by

shockwaveryft
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

What is an electrocardiogram:

An electrocardiogram (ECG ) measures the heart's electrical activity. This can help doctors tell how
the heart is working and identify any problems.

The ECG can help show the rate and regularity of heartbeats, the size and position of the heart's
chambers, and whether there is any damage.

How Is an ECG Done?

An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in the heart. It's a common and
painless test. Electrocardiograms — also called ECGs — are often done in a doctor's
office, a clinic or a hospital room. ECG machines are standard equipment in operating
rooms and ambulances. Some personal devices, such as smart watches,
offer ECG monitoring.

The patient is asked to lie down, and small metal tabs (called electrodes) are fixed to the skin with
sticky papers. These electrodes are placed in a standard pattern on the shoulders, the chest, the
wrists, and the ankles.
After the electrodes are in place, the person is asked to hold still and, perhaps, to hold his or her
breath briefly while the heartbeats are recorded for a short period. The patient also might be asked
to get up and exercise for a while.

The information is interpreted by a machine and drawn as a graph. The graph shows multiple waves,
which reflect the activity of the heart. The height, length, and frequency of the waves are read in the
following way:

 The number of waves per minute on the graph is the heart rate.
 The distances between these waves is the heart rhythm.
 The shapes of the waves show how well the heart's electrical impulses are working, the size of
the heart, and how well the individual parts of the heart are working together.
 The consistency of the waves provides fairly specific information about any heart damage.

An electrocardiogram is a painless, noninvasive way to help diagnose many common


heart problems in people of all ages. The doctor may use an electrocardiogram to
determine or detect:

 Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmias)

 If blocked or narrowed arteries in your 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

One may need an ECG if 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 decline in ability to exercise

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/
electrocardiogram#vm_A_9ed23f41
Risks

An electrocardiogram is a safe procedure. There is no risk of electrical shock during the


test because the electrodes used do not produce electricity. The electrodes only record
the electrical activity of the heart.

The patient may have minor discomfort, similar to removing a bandage, when the
electrodes are removed. Some people develop a slight rash where the patches were
placed.

The doctor will review the information recorded by the ECG machine and look for any
problems with the heart, including:

 Heart rate. Normally, heart rate can be measured by checking your pulse.
An ECG may be helpful if your pulse is difficult to feel or too fast or too irregular to
count accurately. An ECG can help your doctor identify an unusually fast heart rate
(tachycardia) or an unusually slow heart rate (bradycardia).

 Heart rhythm. An ECG can show heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmias). These
conditions may occur when any part of the heart's electrical system malfunctions.
In other cases, medications, such as beta blockers, cocaine, amphetamines, and
over-the-counter cold and allergy drugs, can trigger arrhythmias.

 Heart attack. An ECG can show evidence of a previous heart attack or one that's
in progress. The patterns on the ECG may indicate which part of your heart has
been damaged, as well as the extent of the damage.

 Inadequate blood and oxygen supply to the heart. An ECG done while you're
having symptoms can help your doctor determine whether chest pain is caused by
reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, such as with the chest pain of unstable
angina.

 Structural abnormalities. An ECG can provide clues about enlargement of the


chambers or walls of the heart, heart defects and other heart problems.

You might also like