Table of Contents
ECG – Overview |
When do you need an ECG? |
ECG – risks associated |
Common errors of an ECG |
How to prepare for an ECG test? |
What happens during an ECG? |
What happens after an ECG test? |
An electrocardiogram records electrical signals of your heart. It is a painless medical test usually used to test the health of your heart. It is one of the simplest and fastest tests used to diagnose your heart too.
There are electrical impulses in our heart for supporting blood flow. An ECG records these electrical impulses to measure our heartbeat rate. In this article, we are going to discuss everything about ECG including its procedures and risks.
Your doctor might advise you to undergo an electrocardiogram due to a variety of reasons such as:
Besides, there can also be many other reasons that your doctor may advise you to have an ECG test. ECG is not recommended for those who don’t have any symptoms. But if you are having any family history related to your heart, then your health expert may suggest you to undergo an ECG test.
In some cases, your symptoms may not be present at the time of an ECG recording. In such cases, your doctor may suggest you have continuous ECG monitoring. Some of the methods used for continuous ECG monitoring include.
A Holter monitor is a type of portable ECG, which can be used to monitor the heart’s activity continuously for over 24 to 48 hours.
An event monitor is also a portable ECG more like a Holter monitor. But it does not record your heartbeat continuously. There is a switch in the event monitor. You can press the switch and activate it when you feel any symptoms or discomfort. An event monitor can function continuously for about 30 days.
Every medical procedure has risks in some way or other. ECG is very safe. The chances of risks are minimal and rare. An ECG procedure includes electrodes. These electrodes when left for too long can cause skin irritation and tissue breakdown.
You may also feel discomfort while removing the electrodes as they are sticky. In some cases, people also feel skin rashes. But it is temporary and lasts for very few minutes. An ECG doesn’t emit any electrical signals or impulses, it just analyzes your heart’s electrical signals. So it is generally a very safe test.
Many factors influence the results of an ECG test. Some of these may include:
Besides all the above-mentioned factors, lot more factors can contribute to an inaccurate reading of an ECG including those caused by computer readings and pacemakers.
Before doing an electrocardiogram test, your doctor will explain about the test and there you can ask your doubts about the test. It is very important to tell your doctor about all the medications and supplements you are taking as certain medicines can affect your test results.
Avoid drinking cold water before the test as cold water can affect the electrical patterns of your heart. You should also avoid engaging in exercises or other physical activities. This can increase your heartbeat rate and can influence the test results too.
Generally fasting is not necessary before the test. Tell your doctor if you are having a pacemaker. Besides these, depending upon your health condition your doctor will suggest for other preparations too.
An Electrocardiogram test usually follows the following procedure.
After doing an Electrocardiogram test you can resume your normal life. You should follow any routine or procedures suggested by your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have skin itching or irritation even after a long time of the procedure.
Generally, there are no particular steps to be followed in terms of routine after the test. The treatments and medications after the test depend upon your health condition and test result. . After analyzing your test, your doctor may contact you if you are having any serious health issues such as:
In normal cases, our pulse indicates the rate of our heartbeat. But in some cases, it is very difficult to analyze your pulse. In such cases, an ECG test may be very helpful. Your doctor may inform you if you are having a fast heart rate(tachycardia) or slow heart rate (bradycardia).
An ECG is very effective in detecting previous heart attacks or the one in breakthrough. ECG tests can also determine which part of your heart is mutilated and the severity of the attack.
There can be cases where your heart or parts of your heart have physical abnormalities. An ECG gives your physical expert an idea about the defects of your heart or the parts associated with it.
Our body needs enough amount of blood as well as oxygen for proper functioning. Amount of blood lower than usual is a serious problem to take into consideration. An ECG test helps your doctor to determine if the problem associated with your heart is due to insufficient blood supply.
Consult a cardiologist if you are having any heart-related issues. For your life beat to go on, you need a healthy heart. For a healthy heart, you taking care of your heart is necessary.