What to Expect When You Get an EKG

What to Expect When You Get an EKG -

An electrocardiogram or ECG heart test that made a recording of the electrical activity of your heart. This allows electrical activity to determine the rate and rhythm of your heart. It can help doctors see if you have damage of the heart muscle or electrical problems in the heart

Why Performed electrocardiogram

The test is used to measure.?

• Damage to the heart
• how fast your heart is beating and whether it beats normally
• The size and position of your heart chambers
• the effects of drugs or devices used to control the heart like a pacemaker

This is usually the first test done to determine whether a person has heart disease. Your doctor may order this test if:

• You have chest pain or palpitations
• You planned for surgery
• You had heart problems the past
• you have a family history of heart disease

How to prepare for an ECG

Make sure your doctor knows all the medications you take because some can interfere with the test results.

The day of your test, do not put lotions, oils, powders or on your chest. You will be asked to remove clothing above the waist and given a hospital gown to wear. Some male patients may need to have small areas of the shaved chest because the hair on the chest will not allow the electrodes stick to the skin

How is an ECG done?

• During the test, you lie so many sticky patches called electrodes are placed on your arms, chest and legs to check your heart rate, rhythm and electrical activity of your heart
• electrodes are connected to a machine that records the electrical activity of your heart
• you will be asked to relax, lie still and breathe normally while the information recording electrodes on a moving strip of paper
• the test is painless, no electricity is sent through the body
• the test takes only a few minutes

After electrocardiogram

After your ECG, you can go with your usual activities. Call the office of your doctor two to three business days after your test and your doctor will review your test results with you. Visit UPMC treatment of heart Vascular Institute page for more information.

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