What is an electrocardiogram? Why is it useful?
1 Answer
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that checks for problems in the electrical activity of the heart.
Explanation:
It involves the process of recording the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time using electrodes placed on the skin.
These electrodes detect the tiny electrical changes on the skin that arise from the heart muscle's electrophysiologic pattern of depolarising and repolarising during each heart beat. A natural electrical system causes the heart muscle to contract. This pumps blood through the heart to the lungs and the rest of the body.
An ECG is done to :
1) check the hearts electrical activity.
2) find cause of chest pain or pressure.
3) to find causes of symptoms of heart disease.
4) to check the working of mechanical implants in the heart (pacemaker)
5) check the health of the heart when other diseases or conditions of the heart are present.
Apart from these an ECG can also be used to measure the rate and rhythm of heartbeats, the size and position of the heart chambers, the presence of any damage to the heart muscle cells or conduction system and the effects of cardiac drugs.
