ECG

There is nothing painful about getting an ECG. 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. An ECG (electrocardiogram) records the electrical activity of your heart at rest. It provides information about your heart rate and rhythm, and shows if there is enlargement of the heart due to high blood pressure (hypertension) or evidence of a previous heart attack (myocardial infarction). An exercise ECG usually takes about 20 minutes. Your health professional carrying out the test will attach electrodes to you in the same way as described for a resting ECG.

You’ll then be asked to start walking on a treadmill or cycle on an exercise bike at a gentle, slow pace. Unfortunately, the accuracy of diagnosing blocked arteries further from the heart when using an ECG decrease, so your cardiologist may recommend an ultrasound, which is a non-invasive test, like a carotid ultrasound, to check for blockages in the extremities or neck. PR interval (measured from the beginning of the P wave to the first deflection of the QRS complex). Normal range 120 – 200 ms (3 – 5 small squares on ECG paper). QRS duration (measured from first deflection of QRS complex to end of QRS complex at isoelectric line). An abnormal ECG can mean many things. Sometimes an ECG abnormality is a normal variation of a heart’s rhythm, which does not affect your health. Other times, an abnormal ECG can signal a medical emergency, such as a myocardial infarction /heart attack or a dangerous arrhythmia. An abnormal EKG can mean many things. Sometimes an EKG abnormality is a normal variation of a heart’s rhythm, which does not affect your health. Other times, an abnormal EKG can signal a medical emergency, such as a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or a dangerous arrhythmia. Nurses are usually the first ones to read that “hot off the press” EKG tracing. A 12-lead EKG is considered the gold standard; however, a 4 lead EKG can also diagnose different heart conditions.