FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
CVG Heart Care Insight: What You Need to Know About EKG
An EKG is a snapshot of the electric patterns in your heart that make it beat. It is a routine test in any cardiac evaluation. You can expect one during an initial assessment and any time symptoms change. It is also used to monitor the effects of certain medications. A medical assistant or nurse in the office administers the test. It allows us to look for irregularities in the electrical rhythm of your heart and gives us clues to structural abnormalities of the heart.
Let’s review more details about EKGs.
During an EKG, small electrode patches are placed on specific areas of the chest, arms, and legs. These electrodes detect the electrical impulses generated by the heart with each beat. The signals are then transmitted to a machine that produces a graph-like representation of the heart’s electrical activity. This graph consists of waves and lines corresponding to different phases of the heart’s electrical cycle.
An EKG can reveal a wealth of information about the heart’s function. It can detect abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), including too-fast (tachycardia) or too-slow (bradycardia) heart rates. EKGs can also indicate signs of a current or past heart attack, enlarged heart chambers, and even electrolyte imbalances that may affect heart function. Additionally, this test can provide clues about structural issues within the heart, such as thickened heart muscle walls.
The EKG procedure is quick and painless and typically takes only a few minutes to complete. Patients usually lie down while the electrodes are attached. It’s important to remain still during the recording to ensure accurate results. The test can be performed in various healthcare settings, including doctors’ offices, clinics, and hospitals. No special preparation is usually required, although patients may be advised to avoid applying lotions or oils to the skin before the test.
Interpreting an EKG requires specialized knowledge and experience. Cardiologists and other trained healthcare professionals analyze the patterns and waveforms produced by the EKG to diagnose various heart conditions. While some abnormalities may be immediately apparent, others might require comparison with previous EKGs or additional tests for a comprehensive evaluation.
While EKGs are incredibly useful, they do have limitations. They provide a snapshot of the heart’s electrical activity at a specific moment and may not detect intermittent issues. In some cases, additional tests such as Holter monitors (for continuous EKG recording), stress tests, or echocardiograms may be recommended for a more complete heart health assessment.
If you need an EKG or have concerns about your heart health, we encourage you to contact CVG’’s Atlanta heart doctors. Our cardiology team is equipped with state-of-the-art EKG technology and the expertise to interpret results accurately. We provide comprehensive cardiac care, from routine EKGs to advanced diagnostic procedures. Don’t hesitate to contact our Atlanta heart specialists for expert evaluation and personalized care to ensure your heart stays healthy.
Trust your heart health to CVG’s twenty board-certified cardiologists. Equipped with leading-edge diagnostic tools, a wealth of experience, and compassion, our cardiac team provides the highest level of personalized care.
You can review our cardiologists’ pages and explore their exceptional credentials and dedication to providing quality care. You can trust that our doctors genuinely care about you and will do everything they can to ensure you have the best quality of life possible.
To learn more, please call (770) 962-0399 or 678-582-8586. You may also request an appointment online. If you have an emergency, don’t contact us online; please call 911.