Electrocardiogram
Overview
An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in your heart. It’s a common and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor your heart’s health.
Electrocardiograms — also called ECGs or EKGs — 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. Ask your doctor if this is an option for you.
Why it’s done?
An electrocardiogram is a painless, non-invasive way to help diagnose many common heart problems in
people of all ages. Your 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
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 decline in ability to exercise
The American Heart Association doesn’t recommend using electrocardiograms to assess adults at low risk who don’t have symptoms. But if you have a family history of heart disease, your doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram as a screening test, even if you have no symptoms.
If your symptoms tend to come and go, they may not be captured during a standard ECG recording. In this case your doctor may recommend remote or continuous ECG monitoring. There are several different types
- Holter monitor, A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records a continuous ECG, usually for 24 to 48 hours.
- Event monitor, This portable device is similar to a Holter monitor, but it records only at certain times for a few minutes at a time. You can wear it longer than a Holter monitor, typically 30 days. You generally push a button when you feel symptoms. Some devices automatically record when an abnormal rhythm is detected.
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 your heart.
You 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.
How you prepare
No special preparations are necessary for a standard electrocardiogram. Tell your doctor about any medications and supplements you take. These can often affect the results of your test.
What you can expect
An electrocardiogram can be done in a doctor’s office or hospital and is often done by a nurse or technician.
Results
Your doctor may discuss your results with you the same day as your electrocardiogram or at your next appointment.
If your electrocardiogram is normal, you may not need any other tests. If the results show an abnormality with your heart,
you may need another ECG or other diagnostic tests, such as an echocardiogram. Treatment depends on what’s causing your signs and symptoms. Your doctor will review the information recorded by the ECG machine and look for any problems with your 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 deter mine whether chest pain is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, such as with the chest pain of unstable angina the damage.
- Structural abnormalities, An ECG can provide clues about enlargement of the chambers or walls of the heart, heart defects and other heart problems.
If your doctor finds any problems on your ECG, he or she may order additional tests to see if treatment is necessary
