An electrocardiogram is a simple, noninvasive diagnostic test that measures and records your heart’s electrical activity — a central marker of normal heart function and health. Also called an ECG or EKG, this gold standard cardiovascular evaluation tool provides helpful insight about how well your heart is working.
At Sunnyvale Cardiology in Sunnyvale, Texas, our team of board-certified cardiologists conducts in-office EKG testing on a routine basis. Here’s what this quick and easy “heart tracing” snapshot can reveal about your cardiovascular health.
EKG testing measures your heart’s electrical efficiency as it beats. Your heart’s electrical activity is what drives your heartbeat — setting both the rhythm and rate of that beat.
Every heartbeat is controlled by an electrical impulse, or wave, that makes your heart contract. These contractions are what sustain continuous blood flow through your body.
A healthy heart typically has a regular, even beat that’s powered by normal electrical activity. A diseased or dysfunctional heart, on the other hand, is more likely to have an irregular or erratic beat that’s driven by fast, slow, or inconsistent electrical patterns.
An EKG captures the strength and timing of this “electrical wave” as it travels between your heart’s upper and lower chambers. It measures the “electrical recovery” between waves, too, as your heart momentarily rests between beats.
As one of the fastest and easiest diagnostic heart evaluations, EKG testing takes just 10 minutes to complete. Most of that time is spent positioning the electrodes — the actual EKG recording is done in a few seconds.
To conduct an EKG, we place 12 flat, adhesive patches that contain embedded electrodes at specific points on your chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes are connected to a monitor that registers your heart’s electrical activity.
During a standard EKG test, you lie comfortably on an exam table. The electrodes transmit to the recording monitor, capturing your heart’s usual electrical activity when it’s at rest.
For an EKG stress test, you exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike to increase your heart rate. This allows us to capture the electrical efficiency of your heart when it’s under stress and in recovery — the test concludes when you return to your resting heart rate.
EKG testing is a highly dependable diagnostic tool. In fact, it’s often the first evaluation we recommend for patients who are experiencing any of the common signs and symptoms of heart disease, including:
If you already have some form of diagnosed heart disease, regular EKG testing can help us determine whether your treatment plan (i.e. pacemaker, medication) is working or requires adjustment.
Regular EKG testing can also be a preventive screening tool for patients who have a family history of heart disease. Having periodic EKGs before you develop worrisome symptoms can help you stay on top of your cardiovascular health and ultimately decrease your heart attack and stroke risk.
EKG testing shows whether electrical waves pass through your heart chambers at a normal rate, faster than normal, slower than normal, or in an erratic pattern. Abnormal results may be an indication that your heart is weak or overworked, or that it has some kind of structural (size or shape) irregularity.
Conditions we can diagnose with an EKG include abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) like atrial fibrillation (AFib), damage from a previous heart attack, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease.
Sometimes, abnormal EKG results call for further testing. Specifically, you may require a cardiac ultrasound exam, or echocardiogram. This noninvasive test uses sound waves to capture moving pictures of your heart, providing detailed information about its structure, function, pressure, and fluid collection.
To learn more about EKG testing at Sunnyvale Cardiology in Sunnyvale, Texas, give us a call today — or use our easy online scheduler to book an appointment at your convenience.
