An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick and painless test that measures the heart's electrical activity using electrodes placed on the body. It has evolved since the first measurements in the late 19th century and can indicate various heart conditions through specific wave patterns. There are different types of ECGs, including resting, ambulatory, and exercise stress tests, which are essential for monitoring heart health, especially in middle-aged individuals.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick and painless test that measures the heart's electrical activity using electrodes placed on the body. It has evolved since the first measurements in the late 19th century and can indicate various heart conditions through specific wave patterns. There are different types of ECGs, including resting, ambulatory, and exercise stress tests, which are essential for monitoring heart health, especially in middle-aged individuals.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick and painless test that measures the heart's electrical activity using electrodes placed on the body. It has evolved since the first measurements in the late 19th century and can indicate various heart conditions through specific wave patterns. There are different types of ECGs, including resting, ambulatory, and exercise stress tests, which are essential for monitoring heart health, especially in middle-aged individuals.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick and painless test that measures the heart's electrical activity using electrodes placed on the body. It has evolved since the first measurements in the late 19th century and can indicate various heart conditions through specific wave patterns. There are different types of ECGs, including resting, ambulatory, and exercise stress tests, which are essential for monitoring heart health, especially in middle-aged individuals.
What is ECG? An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is one of the simplest and fastest tests used to evaluate the heart. Electrodes are placed at certain spots on the chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes are connected to an ECG machine by lead wires. The electrical activity of the heart is then measured, interpreted, and printed out. No electricity is sent into the body. An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in the heart. It's a common and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor the heart's health. Some personal devices, such as smartwatches, offer ECG monitoring. Flashback to the 1st ECG!
A turning point came in 1872, when Gabriel Lippman came up with a gadget called a capillary electrometer, which could measure the voltage changes on the body's surface produced by the pulses of the heart. A.D. Waller, using Lippman's invention, captured the first actual measurement of a heart's beating in 1887 Willem Einthoven found the beat and built a machine that could measure the electrical current a heart creates. It weighed 600 pounds. An electrocardiogram — called informally an ECG or EKG — measures the small electric waves that a human heart creates. It's been doing it for more than a century. P Wave The P wave occurs when both left and right atria are full of blood and the SA node fires. The signal causes both atria to contract and pump blood to the ventricles abnormality is generally associated with the SA node and the atria. QRS Complex The Q, R and S waves together are referred to as QRS complex (even if some of its components are missing). It is the electrical forces generated by ventricular depolarization and represents the pumping action of the ventricles. General characteristics : 80 - 120ms in duration ST Segment The ST segment marks the time for the ventricles to pump the blood to the lung and body. In normal situations, it serves as the base line from which to measure the amplitudes of the other waveforms. T Wave After the contraction empties the blood in the ventricles, they begin to relax, which is marked by the T wave. General characteristics : The normal T wave is asymmetrical; the first half has a more gradual slope than the second half. 12-lead ECG 10 electrodes required to produce 12-lead ECG 4 Electrodes on all 4 limbs (RA, LL, LA, RL)6 Electrodes on precordium (V1– 6) V1: 4th intercostal space (ICS), RIGHT margin of the sternum V2: 4th ICS along the LEFT margin of the sternum V4: 5th ICS, mid-clavicular line
Leads of ECG V3: midway between V2 and V4 V5: 5th ICS, anterior axillary line (same level as V4) V6: 5th ICS, mid-axillary line (same level as V4) V7 – Left posterior axillary line, in the same horizontal plane as V6. V8 – Tip of the left scapula, in the same horizontal plane as V6. V9 – Left paraspinal region, in the same horizontal plane as V6. Lewis lead placement Right Arm (RA) electrode on manubrium Left Arm (LA) electrode over 5th ICS, right sternal border. Left Leg (LL) electrode over right lower costal margin. Abnormalities in ECG
First degree Heart Atrial fibrillation Sinus arrhythmia
ECG machine is designed to monitor the can indicate particular heart electrical activity of the heart and display it issues – for instance, in the form of a moving line of peaks and arrhythmias valleys. Provides information about An electrocardiogram can indicate whether electrical system of heart. or not the heart is functioning properly and if Determine the effect of not, what the problem may be. administered drugs on the electrical system of heart Types Of ECG
Resting ECG – No movement is allowed during the test, as electrical
impulses from other muscles can interfere with the test. This type of ECG usually takes five to 10 minutes. Ambulatory ECG – Wear a portable recording device for at least 24 hours. You are free to move around normally while the device is attached. A doctor may arrange this type of ECG if you have symptoms that are intermittent (stop-start) which may not show up on a resting ECG. Your doctor may also recommend an ambulatory ECG if you are recovering from heart attack, to ensure your heart is working properly. Exercise stress test– Helps doctor to see how well your heart is working during physical activity. It involves having an ECG while you ride a stationary exercise bike or walk on a treadmill. This type of ECG takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete. Take home message It is very important to make ECG as a part of monthly health check up if the person is middle aged As it is a way for the doctor to evaluate symptoms that could be from a heart problem, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, a fast or abnormal heart beat or swelling in your legs Electrocardiogram - graph obtained from the machine Electrocardiograph - machine the produces ECG Thank you!
