Port Moresby Medical Laboratories (POMMEDLAB)

Electrocardiology- ECG

 

What is an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)?

 

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart.  Each beat of the heart is started by an electrical impulse from special cells in the right upper chamber of the heart. The electrical impulse travels to other parts of the heart and causes the heart to squeeze and pump blood. The electrical signals can be detected on the body surface. The ECG records these electrical signals. With the ECG your healthcare provider can study the pattern of the signals. Many different diseases and conditions affect the ECG pattern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When is it used?

 

The ECG is used to record heart rhythms. Your healthcare provider can diagnose heart problems by interpreting patterns of heartbeats and rhythms. An ECG can show:

abnormal heartbeats and rhythms

thickening of the heart muscle caused by high blood pressure or other diseases

evidence of a current heart attack and the effects of old heart attacks

parts of the heart that are not getting enough blood

evidence of chemical imbalances in the body.

When do I come for ECG test?

 

 

If you or your doctor suspects that you have a heart disease you should come for  ECG. You will definitely need ECG if you have the following:

sudden central chest pain

breathlessness for no apparent reason

leg swellings

family history of heart disease

Hypertension and kidney

Diabetes

Chronic lung disease

Recurrent lung infection

Weight problems

Anxiety

Palpitations or racing heart beat

Dizzy spells

History of alcohol or drug abuse

POMMEDLAB also provide ECG for general health screen.

 

How do I prepare for an electrocardiogram?

 

No preparation is necessary unless your healthcare provider gives you special instructions.

 

What happens during the procedure?

 

A resting ECG is a painless procedure that takes less than 20 minutes. It can be done in your healthcare provider's office, clinic, or hospital.

You strip to the waist so that electrodes can be attached to your chest and limbs. Women should consider wearing a separate top to their trousers or skirt to allow easy access to the chest. The selected sites are shaved, if necessary. Special sensors called electrodes are attached to the chest, arms and legs with either suction cups or sticky gel. These electrodes detect the electrical currents generated by the heart which are measured and recorded by the electrocardiogram machine.

Special senses are attached via small sticky patches or suction cups on your chest, wrists, and ankles. The disks are connected to a machine that records electrical impulses of the heart. The recording is printed on paper for your healthcare provider to interpret. The ECG gives your healthcare provider 12 views of your heart's electrical activity.

 

What are the benefits of an ECG?

 

The ECG is a simple, inexpensive, easily performed test that gives a lot of information to your healthcare provider about the way your heart is working. It can speed up the diagnosis of a heart attack so treatment can be started quickly. It can tell if the electrical system is working properly or if you may need medicines or devices like a pacemaker to help control your heart rhythm. Problems identified include heart attack, cardiac arrhythmias, enlarged heart, heart failure, pericarditis, and other non-heart related conditions electrolyte abnormalities and pulmonary emboli.

 

Are there any risks to an ECG?

 

The ECG is a safe procedure with no known risks. It does not send electric current to the body.

 Published by POMMEDLAB.

Electrocardiographic Tracing