Things an EKG Can Tell Your Cardiologist

by Kevin Smith Author

If you ever experience symptoms of heart trouble like shortness of breath, discomfort in the chest, or irregular pulse, it's important that you seek medical attention right away. This will allow the doctors to perform tests that can help determine what the problem may be. An EKG is a common test the cardiologist in Suffolk County, NY, will perform to help identify and diagnose heart irregularities. Here's what you need to know about this test.

What an EKG Measures

An EKG measures the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes. These are small patches that are placed on the chest and limbs. The electrodes are connected to a recording device so that when electrical impulses from the heart reach the electrodes, the machine records them as waves. This graphic representation of the heart's electrical activity shows if the pattern as well as the amount of electrical activity is normal or not.

Duration of Test

A typical EKG test is only 15 minutes at the most when it's done in the doctor's office, although the actual recording only takes a few seconds. A standard EKG like this provides valuable information, but the doctor may sometimes suggest other types of EKG tests that record the heart's rhythm for a longer period of time. A wearable monitor can keep track of electrical activity for a few days, 24 hours a day. Another type can be activated when symptoms start in order to record and store the heart's activity for a few minutes at a time. This type is typically worn for weeks or months.

What Patterns Mean

Whether the patterns are recorded for just a few seconds or over an extended period of time, there's a lot of information the cardiologist in Suffolk County, NY, can glean. The patterns can tell if electrolyte levels or too high or too low since these variations can change the conductivity of the heart. In addition, EKGs can be used to diagnose a heart emergency as it happens or to identify changes in the heart that may have resulted from a past event like a heart attack. High blood pressure can cause the heart to be enlarged, which can also be seen on an EKG. The EKG is instrumental in identifying heart rhythm irregularities like missing or extra beats or rhythm that's too fast or too slow. All this information helps determine the risk of heart disease and the course of treatment needed.