Ecg how is it performed

You should have a blood test for cholesterol if you are a male and over 40, female and over 50 or post-menopausal, you have heart disease, stroke, diabetes or high blood pressure, your waist measures more than cm 40 in for men or 88 cm 35 in for women, you have a family history of heart disease or stroke. Your health care provider can advise how often you should have your cholesterol tested. Blood sugar. Too much glucose can harm your blood vessels.

If you have risk factors for diabetes or are pregnant, your blood sugar levels should be tested. Speak to your health care provider about whether you need a blood sugar test.

If your blood pressure, blood cholesterol, or blood sugar are too high, work with your health care provider to lower them. Most people can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and manage diabetes with lifestyle changes and medicine. Generally, the test involves attaching a number of small, sticky sensors called electrodes to your arms, legs and chest. These are connected by wires to an ECG recording machine.

You don't need to do anything special to prepare for the test. You can eat and drink as normal beforehand. Before the electrodes are attached, you'll usually need to remove your upper clothing, and your chest may need to be shaved or cleaned. Once the electrodes are in place, you may be offered a hospital gown to cover yourself. The test itself usually only lasts a few minutes, and you should be able to go home soon afterwards or return to the ward if you're already staying in hospital.

The type of ECG you have will depend on your symptoms and the heart problem suspected. Tell your doctor if you develop any signs or symptoms you had before the ECG for example, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting.

Your doctor may give you other instructions after the test, depending on your particular situation. If you have a new or existing heart problem, it's vital to see a doctor. Our heart health checklist can help you determine when to seek care. Health Home Treatments, Tests and Therapies. Why might I need an electrocardiogram?

Some reasons for your doctor to request an electrocardiogram ECG include:. To look for the cause of chest pain To evaluate problems which may be heart-related, such as severe tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting To identify irregular heartbeats To help determine the overall health of the heart before procedures such as surgery; or after treatment for conditions such as a heart attack myocardial infarction, or MI , endocarditis inflammation or infection of one or more of the heart valves ; or after heart surgery or cardiac catheterization To see how an implanted pacemaker is working To determine how well certain heart medicines are working To get a baseline tracing of the heart's function during a physical exam; this may be used as a comparison with future ECGs, to determine if there have been any changes There may be other reasons for your doctor to recommend an ECG.

What are the risks of an electrocardiogram? These include, but are not limited to: Obesity Pregnancy Fluid buildup in the abdomen ascites Anatomical considerations, such as the size of the chest and the location of the heart within the chest Movement during the test Exercise or smoking before the test Certain medicines Electrolyte imbalances, such as too much or too little potassium, magnesium, or calcium in the blood How do I get ready for an electrocardiogram?

Your doctor or the technician will explain the test to you and let you ask questions. Generally, fasting not eating is not required before the test.

Tell your doctor of all medicines prescribed and over-the-counter , vitamins, herbs, and supplements that you are taking. Left bundle branch block is a condition in which there's slowing along the electrical pathway to your heart's left ventricle. Ejection fraction is a test that's used to determine the percentage of blood that leaves your left ventricle each time your heart beats. A new study of over 2. Experts say middle-aged people with iron deficiency have a higher risk of heart disease later.

You can increase iron levels with diet and supplements. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. What happens during an electrocardiogram? Types of electrocardiograms. What risks are involved? Getting ready for your EKG.

Interpreting the results of an EKG. Read this next. Abnormal EKG.