This area divides into fibers that provide current to the left and right ventricles. Ideally, an EKG can measure any potential disruptions. These include:. This can signal that the heart is working harder than normal to pump blood. Electrolyte imbalances : Electrolytes are electricity-conducting particles in the body that help keep the heart muscle beating in rhythm.
Potassium , calcium , and magnesium are electrolytes. If your electrolytes are imbalanced, you may have an abnormal EKG reading. Heart attack or ischemia: During a heart attack, blood flow in the heart is affected and heart tissue can begin to lose oxygen and die. This tissue will not conduct electricity as well, which can cause an abnormal EKG. Ischemia, or lack of blood flow, may also cause an abnormal EKG. Heart rate abnormalities: A typical human heart rate is between 60 and beats per minute bpm.
An EKG can determine if the heart is beating too fast or too slow. Heart rhythm abnormalities: A heart typically beats in a steady rhythm. An EKG can reveal if the heart is beating out of rhythm or sequence.
Examples of medications that affect heart rhythm include beta-blockers , sodium channel blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
Learn more about arrhythmia drugs. Several symptoms can indicate that you may need an EKG to determine if your heart is functioning normally. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience:. Treatment response to an abnormal EKG typically depends on the underlying cause. This person may require a pacemaker , which helps restore the heart to a more normal rhythm.
Someone having a heart attack may require cardiac catheterization or surgery to allow blood flow to return to the heart. People with electrolyte imbalances may require correction with medications or fluids. An electrocardiogram ECG or EKG is a test that checks how your heart is functioning by measuring the electrical activity of the heart.
With each heart beat, an electrical impulse or wave travels through your heart. This wave causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart. An ECG measures and records the electrical activity that passes through the heart. A doctor can determine if this electrical activity is normal or irregular. An ECG may be recommended if you are experiencing arrhythmia , chest pain , or palpitations and an abnormal ECG result can be a signal of a number of different heart conditions.
You do not have to restrict what you eat or drink before your ECG, although it is recommended that you not smoke just before the test. You will be asked to remove your jewelry and wear a hospital gown. If you require more detailed information, check with the facility where you are having your exam.
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. However, it does not show whether you have asymptomatic blockages in your heart arteries or predict your risk of a future heart attack. You may need an ECG test if you have risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, or symptoms such as palpitations or chest pain.
Or you may need it if you already have heart disease. But in other cases, you may think twice about having this test. The test is not useful in routine checkups for people who do not have risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure or symptoms of heart disease, like chest pain. Yet, many people with no risk factors or symptoms have an ECG as part of their routine checkups. There are better ways to prevent heart disease than routine ECGs.
The ECG will not harm you. However, it can sometimes show mild nonspecific abnormalities that are not due to underlying heart disease, but cause worry and lead to follow-up tests and treatments that you do not need.
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