• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home Health A to Z

Patient Basics: Electrocardiogram (EKG)

byHarvard Health
November 30, 2014
in Health A to Z
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Originally published by Harvard Health.

 What Is It?

An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a painless process that records the heart’s electrical activity. Small metal electrodes are placed on the person’s wrists, ankles and chest. The electrical signals travel from the electrodes through wires to the EKG machine, which transforms the signals into patterns or waves. Different waves represent different areas of your heart through which electrical currents flow. The electrical currents stimulate the heart muscles to contract and relax. The P wave represents the current in the upper chambers of the heart (atria); the QRS complex represents current in the lower heart chambers (ventricles); and the T wave represents the heart’s brief “rest period” as it recharges electrically (repolarizes) between heartbeats.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

EKG waves are recorded on paper as they move through the EKG machine, showing the heart rate and heart rhythm. The appearance of the wave patterns can give important clues about damage to the heart muscle or irritation of the membrane around the heart (pericardium).

In most cases, a basic EKG takes about 5 to 10 minutes. It can be done in a doctor’s office, in a laboratory or in a hospital.

What It’s Used For

An EKG can be used to evaluate someone with chest pain, people who may be having a heart attack, and those suspected of having coronary artery disease or a cardiac arrhythmia. It also can help to diagnose an inflammation of the membrane around the heart (pericarditis), a blood clot blocking blood flow in a lung (pulmonary embolism), abnormal blood levels of potassium or calcium, or overdoses of certain medications.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)1

RELATED REPORTS

Isolated left axis deviation may not necessitate further work up

Electrocardiograms following annual health visit are common despite being low yield

ACE-inhibitor use associated with decreased conduction system disease

An EKG sometimes is used as part of a regular physical examination or as a screening test in people at high risk of heart problems, including people with high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, diabetes, a strong family history of heart problems, and people who smoke. The EKG sometimes will suggest that a person has coronary artery disease even if there are no symptoms.

During surgery, an EKG tracing helps to monitor the functioning of the person’s heart.

Preparation

In most cases, no special preparation is necessary. However, if you are taking any medications, tell the EKG technician about these drugs beforehand. This is because certain medicines have effects on the heart that can influence an EKG.

You will be asked to remove any bracelets and long necklaces during your EKG. Also, it is helpful to wear a shirt that can be unbuttoned easily.

How It’s Done

You will need to expose the skin above your ankles, wrists and chest. If you need to undress, you will be given a gown. You will lie on an examination table. An EKG technician will clean portions of your arms, legs and chest to remove excess skin oils and sweat. In certain men, a small area of chest hair may need to be shaved.

Next, about 10 small metal electrodes will be attached with sticky pads to various parts of your body, including one on each arm and leg, six across the left side of the chest and, at times, one or more at other sites on the chest, neck and back.

Once the electrodes are attached, you only need to relax as your EKG is recorded. You won’t feel anything. Breathe normally, avoid talking and don’t make any unnecessary motions. When your EKG is done, the technician will remove the electrodes and you will be allowed to dress. Ask the technician if you need to speak with your doctor before you leave.

Follow-Up

Depending on why your doctor ordered the EKG, he or she may ask to see it immediately. If the EKG is part of a routine physical or preoperative evaluation, then ask the technician whether your doctor will notify you of the result, or whether you will need to call the doctor’s office.

Risks

An EKG is considered a safe, routine diagnostic procedure, with no harmful side effects.

When To Call A Professional

Because harmful side effects are not expected, people typically need to call their doctors only for EKG results.

Additional Info

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
Phone: (301) 592-8573
TTY: (240) 629-3255
Fax: (301) 592-8563
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

American Heart Association (AHA)
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231
Toll-Free: (800) 242-8721
http://www.americanheart.org/

Tags: Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Previous Post

Patient Basics: Heart Valve Replacement

Next Post

Patient Basics: Cystoscopy

RelatedReports

Long-term outcomes for off-pump and on-pump CABG are similar
Cardiology

Isolated left axis deviation may not necessitate further work up

February 1, 2018
Cardiology

Electrocardiograms following annual health visit are common despite being low yield

July 17, 2017
ACE-inhibitor use associated with decreased conduction system disease
Cardiology

ACE-inhibitor use associated with decreased conduction system disease

June 29, 2016
Early repolarization on ECG not associated with long-term prognosis
Cardiology

Early repolarization on ECG not associated with long-term prognosis

October 28, 2015
Next Post

Patient Basics: Cystoscopy

Patient Basics: Computed Tomography (CT)

Patient Basics: Corneal Transplant

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

Get 2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Wellness Check: Mental Health
  • #VisualAbstract: Addition of elotuzumab to lenalidomide and dexamethasone did not significantly improve survival outcomes in newly diagnosed, transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma
  • #VisualAbstract: Pretreatment with radiotherapy and two cycles of concurrent cisplatin may reduce toxicity in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.