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Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): An EKG is an
important part of the initial evaluation of The EKG is extremely safe and there is no risk involved. In rare cases, some people may develop skin irritation from the electrode adhesive, but no serious allergic reactions have been reported. The only preparation for an EKG is to wear clothes that allow easy access to your chest. Thus, a blouse or shirt with buttons down the front is a lot more practical than a pantsuit or dress. Once you arrive in your doctor's office or in the hospital, your chest may be cleansed with alcohol to ensure good electrical contact with the EKG electrode. In men with a hairy chest, small areas may have to be shaved to allow adequate skin contact with the electrode. This avoids interfering artifacts from being recorded on the EKG and produces a technically satisfactory study.
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patient who is suspected to have a heart related problem. Small sticky
electrodes are applied to the patient's chest, arms and legs. However,
with some systems, the electrodes may be applied to the
chest, shoulders and the sides of the lower chest, or hips . Wires are
used to connect the patient to an EKG machine. You will be asked to
remain very still while a nurse or technician records the EKG. The
electrical activity created by the patient's heart is processed by
the EKG machine and then printed on a special graph paper. This is then
interpreted by your physician. It takes a few minutes to apply the EKG
electrodes, and one minute to make the actual recording.
The EKG can provide important
information about the patient's heart rhythm, a previous heart attack,
increased thickness of heart muscle, signs of decreased oxygen delivery
to the heart, and problems with conduction of the electrical current
from one portion of the heart to another. For example, the EKG tracing
shown here demonstrates an acute or ongoing heart attack involving the
bottom (or inferior portion of the heart).