Wednesday, April 22, 2015

What Is an Electrocardiogram?

Hello Welcome to the Blog" Health Advise MD " This information is intended for personal use and should not be taken as health advise. Please consult your doctor if you have this problem.

An electrocardiogram (e-lek-tro-KAR-de-o-gram), also called an EKG or ECG, is a simple, painless test that records the heart's electrical activity. To understand this test, it helps to understand how the heart works.
With each heartbeat, an electrical signal spreads from the top of the heart to the bottom. As it travels, the signal causes the heart to contract and pump blood. The process repeats with each new heartbeat.
The heart's electrical signals set the rhythm of the
heartbeat. 
An EKG shows:
  • How fast your heart is beating
  • Whether the rhythm of your heartbeat is steady or irregular
  • The strength and timing of electrical signals as they pass through each part of your heart
Doctors use EKGs to detect and study many heart problems, such as heart attacks,arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs), and heart failure. The test's results also can suggest other disorders that affect heart function.

who needs an EKG???

Your doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram (EKG) if you have signs or symptoms that suggest a heart problem. Examples of such signs and symptoms include:
  • Chest pain
  • Heart pounding, racing, or fluttering, or the sense that your heart is beating unevenly
  • Breathing problems
  • Tiredness and weakness
  • Unusual heart sounds when your doctor listens to your heartbeat
You may need to have more than one EKG so your doctor can diagnose certain heart conditions.
An EKG also may be done as part of a routine health exam. The test can screen for early heart disease that has no symptoms. Your doctor is more likely to look for early heart disease if your mother, father, brother, or sister had heart disease—especially early in life.
You may have an EKG so your doctor can check how well heart medicine or a medical device, such as a pacemaker, is working. The test also may be used for routine screening before major surgery.
Your doctor also may use EKG results to help plan your treatment for a heart condition.

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