ELECTROCARDIOGRAM
The ECG is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. The heart is a muscular organ that beats in rhythm to pump the blood through the body. These electrical signals control the activity of the heart muscle.
In an ECG test, the electrical impulses made while the heart is beating are recorded and saved to your computer file. This records any problems with the heart's rhythm, and the conduction of the heart beat through the heart which may be affected by underlying heart disease. The ECG can be useful for the following
An ECG may appear normal even in the presence of significant heart disease. Thus, for a full assessment of the heart, other tests may be needed.
How is an ECG performed? 10 self-adhesive electrodes will be attached to select locations of the skin on the arms, legs and chest. Areas such as the chest where the electrodes will be placed may need to be shaved. The test is completely painless and takes less than a minute to perform once the leads are in position.
In an ECG test, the electrical impulses made while the heart is beating are recorded and saved to your computer file. This records any problems with the heart's rhythm, and the conduction of the heart beat through the heart which may be affected by underlying heart disease. The ECG can be useful for the following
- Significant symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, chest pain , fainting, palpitations.
- The test can show evidence of disease in the coronary arteries. Unfortunately, in many people who have significant narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart muscle, the ECG recording made at rest is often normal. Therefore, if a significant narrowing is suspected, an ECG recording is often made when the patient is exercising (an exercise stress test) as this is more likely to reveal the problem.
- An ECG can be used to assess if the patient has had a heart attack or evidence of a previous heart attack.
- An ECG can be used to monitor the effect of medicines used for coronary artery disease.
- An ECG reveals rhythm problems such as the cause of a slow or fast heart beat - the commonest rhythm disorder is Atrial Fibrillation which is often asymptomatic and significantly increase your risk of stroke..
- To demonstrate thickening of a heart muscle (left ventricular hypertrophy), for example due to long-standing high blood pressure.
An ECG may appear normal even in the presence of significant heart disease. Thus, for a full assessment of the heart, other tests may be needed.
How is an ECG performed? 10 self-adhesive electrodes will be attached to select locations of the skin on the arms, legs and chest. Areas such as the chest where the electrodes will be placed may need to be shaved. The test is completely painless and takes less than a minute to perform once the leads are in position.
