Electrocardiogram

An Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The electrical activity of the heart is produced by specialised cells that create electrical impulses that coordinate the contraction and relaxation of the heart muscles. These impulses are in charge of keeping the heart beating regularly and pumping blood throughout the body.

Electrodes (tiny, sticky patches) are placed on the skin of the chest, arms, and legs during an ECG and are connected to an ECG machine. The electrical impulses produced by the heart are detected and recorded by the electrodes. The machine amplifies the signals and generates a graphical depiction of the heart’s electrical activity, which is presented on graph paper or a computer screen as a succession of waves and complexes.

The ECG waveform is made up of several components, each of which represents a separate event in the cardiac cycle:

P wave: Represents the electrical impulse that causes the atria (the upper chambers of the heart) to contract.

QRS complex: The electrical impulse that spreads across the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) and causes them to contract and pump blood.

T wave: This represents the ventricle’s recovery or relaxation phase.

Healthcare practitioners can detect arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), conduction difficulties, electrolyte imbalances, and symptoms of cardiac illness, such as a heart attack or ischemia (lack of blood supply to the heart muscle), by analysing the ECG.

ECGs are non-invasive, painless, and rapid examinations that are frequently used as part of routine physical exams or to evaluate symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting. The ECG results assist healthcare providers in making informed decisions regarding a patient’s heart health and may suggest additional tests or actions if necessary.