When an Electrocardiograph is used?

An ECG is often used alongside other tests to help diagnose and monitor conditions affecting the heart.

It can be used to investigate symptoms of a possible heart problem, such as chest pain, palpitations (suddenly noticeable heartbeats), dizziness and shortness of breath.

An ECG can help detect:

• arrhythmias – where the heart beats too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly
• coronary heart disease – where the heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances
• heart attacks – where the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked
• cardiomyopathy – where the heart walls become thickened or enlarged

A series of ECGs can also be taken over time to monitor a person already diagnosed with a heart condition or taking medication known to potentially affect the heart.

Types of Electrocardiograph

There are 3 main types of ECG:

• a resting ECG – carried out while you’re lying down in a comfortable position
• a stress or exercise ECG – carried out while you’re using an exercise bike or treadmill
• an ambulatory ECG(sometimes called a Holter monitor) – the electrodes are connected to a small portable machine worn at your waist so your heart can be monitored at home for 1 or more days

Process of Electrocardiograph

The process of electrocardiograph includes:

• Small sticky electrodes are attached to the arms, chest and legs.
• These electrodes are connected to the ECG machine through wires that help in detecting the electrical impulses occurring at each heartbeat.
• These electrodes usually detect the very minute form of changes in an electrical path on the skin which arises from the heart muscles and the electrophysiologic patterns of the depolarizing during every heartbeat.