What is an electrocardiogram

Heart rhythm is an important indicator of heart function. Any violation of the heart rhythm can serve as a signal of dangerous diseases of the heart and other body systems. The most common disorders of the heart rhythm include tachycardia (accelerated heartbeat), bradycardia (slow heart rate) and arrhythmia (rhythmic abnormalities of the heart contractions). Any of these conditions requires examination of the patient and diagnosis of the disease.

To date, one of the main methods of diagnosing heart diseases and examining the work of the heart is electrocardiography (ECG).

Why is electrocardiography performed?

At present, electrocardiography remains one of the main methods for studying the heart and diagnosing diseases of the cardiovascular system. The main goals of the ECG include:

• Measurement of the electrical activity of the heart
• Evaluation of the source of rhythm
• Determination of heart rate regularity
• Determination of heart rate
• Measurement of cardiac conduction.

All these indicators allow the doctor to identify cardiac disorders and diagnose various diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as myocardial infarction, its location and consequences, coronary heart disease, heart rhythm disturbances.

Indications for ECG:

• Suspected cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension
• Complaints about pain in the heart, shortness of breath, heart rhythm disturbance
• Disease of internal organs, the course of which can affect the work of the heart.

How is electrocardiography performed?

Electrocardiography is a record of the electrical activity of the heart. The essence of the ECG is the recording of electrical potentials that arise when the heart is working, and in their display on the display or on paper.

During the procedure, the patient removes clothing from the upper half of the body and is in a supine position, in a calm state. To the chest and to the extremities of the patient are attached 10 or 12 electrodes, which register electrical signals. The received signals are transmitted to the registrar, which is called the electrocardiograph. The ECG procedure is absolutely painless and safe, and does not cause discomfort to the patient. Preparation of the patient and removal of the ECG takes no more than 10 minutes.

The recording of the electrical activity of the heart is a graphic curve consisting of intervals and prongs. This chart is called an electrocardiogram. Any changes in the size, shape, duration or location of teeth and spacing may indicate the presence of a violation. The ECG is decoded by a cardiologist, and usually patients will learn the results of the study on the same day that the procedure was performed.

Despite a wide range of diagnostic capabilities, electrocardiography still has some drawbacks. One of them is the short-term recording of the work of the heart. For example, if a patient experiences tachycardia during emotional or physical exertion, during the study he can be calm and, accordingly, an electrocardiogram will not show abnormalities. In such cases, you can conduct an ECG while the patient is performing physical exercises or send the patient to monitor the ECG according to Holter , which allows you to monitor the work of the heart for 24 hours.

The ECG is a powerful and at the same time affordable diagnostic tool. Thanks to the ECG, a cardiologist can detect cardiac dysfunction even when the patient does not experience any alarming symptoms. Healthy people are recommended to undergo an annual medical examination, including ECG. Take care of your health in advance, because to prevent the disease is much easier than to cure.