electrocardiogram - ECG/ekg

An electrocardiogram, or ECG/EKG, measures the heart's electrical activity. Each heartbeat is caused by an electrical impulse. This pumps blood to the body. After the impulse, the heart refills with blood. EKGs are a common, noninvasive, and painless test. They can detect many heart problems.

From the EKG, a doctor can tell whether heartbeats are regular or irregular, too slow or too fast. They can also tell whether the electric impulses are blocked somewhere in the heart. With the help of an EKG, a doctor can often see if certain parts of the heart are too large or overworked. An EKG can point to conditions like blocked or narrow heart arteries, or previous heart attacks. EKGs are part of the normal evaluation in most visits to a cardiologist. 

Citations: 

American Heart Association. (2015, July 31). Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). Retrieved October 02, 2020, from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/diagnosing-a-heart-attack/electrocardiogram-ecg-or-ekg

 

Mayo Clinic. (2020, April 9). Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). Tests & Procedures. Retrieved October 02, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ekg/about/pac-20384983

 

Price, D. (2010, May). How to read an Electrocardiogram (ECG). Part One: Basic principles of the ECG. The normal ECG. 1. http://www.southsudanmedicaljournal.com/archive/may-2010/how-to-read-an-electrocardiogram-ecg.-part-one-basic-principles-of-the-ecg.-the-normal-ecg.html#:~:text=Normal%20intervals&text=Normal%20range%20120%20%E2%80%93%20200%20ms,small%20squares%20on%20ECG%

 

HCMA 6/2021

EKG monitor at ICU in hospital