The concept of "ECG" stands for "electrocardiogram". This is a graphical recording of the electrical impulses of the heart.
The human heart has its own pacemaker. The pacemaker is located directly in the right atrium. This place is called the sinus node. The impulse that comes from this node is called a sinus impulse (it will help to decipher what the ECG will show). It is this source of impulses that is located in the very heart and itself generates electrical impulses. Then they are sent to the conducting system. Impulses in people who do not have cardiac pathology pass evenly through the conductive cardiac system. All these outgoing impulses are recorded and displayed on the cardiogram tape.
From this it follows that an ECG - an electrocardiogram - is a graphically registered impulses of the cardiac system. Will an EKG show heart problems? Of course, this is a great and quick way to identify any heart disease. Moreover, the electrocardiogram is the most basic method in diagnosing the detection of pathology and various diseases of the heart.
The ECG machine was created by the Englishman A. Waller back in the seventiesyears of the 19th century. Over the next 150 years, the device that records the electrical activity of the heart has undergone changes and improvements. Although the principle of operation has not changed.
Modern ambulance crews are sure to be equipped with portable ECG machines, with which you can very quickly make an ECG, saving valuable time. With the help of an ECG, you can even diagnose a person. An ECG will show heart problems: from acute cardiac pathologies to myocardial infarction. In these cases, there is not a minute to lose, and therefore a timely cardiogram can save a person's life.
Doctors of the ambulance teams themselves decipher the ECG tape and in case of acute pathology, if the device shows a heart attack, then, turning on the siren, they quickly take the patient to the clinic, where he will immediately receive urgent assistance. But in case of problems, urgent hospitalization is not necessary, everything will depend on what the ECG shows.
In what cases is an electrocardiogram prescribed
If a person has the symptoms described below, then the cardiologist sends him to an electrocardiogram:
- swollen legs;
- fainting;
- have shortness of breath;
- chest pain, back pain, neck pain.
ECG is mandatory for pregnant women for examination, people in preparation for surgery, physical examination.
ECG results are also required in case of a trip to a sanatorium or if permission is needed for any sports activities.
For prevention and if a person does not have anycomplaints, doctors recommend taking an electrocardiogram once a year. Often this can help diagnose heart conditions that are asymptomatic.
What the ECG will show
On the tape itself, the cardiogram can show a collection of teeth, as well as recessions. These teeth are denoted by capital Latin letters P, Q, R, S and T. When deciphering, the cardiologist examines and deciphers the width, height of the teeth, their size and the intervals between them. According to these indicators, you can determine the general condition of the heart muscle.
With the help of an electrocardiogram, various pathologies of the heart can be detected. Will an EKG show a heart attack? Definitely yes.
What determines the electrocardiogram
- Heart rate - HR.
- Rhythms of heart contractions.
- Heart attack.
- Arrhythmias.
- Ventricular hypertrophy.
- Ischemic and cardiac changes.
The most disappointing and serious diagnosis on the electrocardiogram is myocardial infarction. In the diagnosis of heart attacks, the ECG plays an important and even major role. With the help of a cardiogram, a zone of necrosis, localization and depth of lesions of the heart area are revealed. Also, when deciphering the cardiogram tape, it is possible to recognize and distinguish acute myocardial infarction from aneurysms and past scars. Therefore, when passing a medical examination, it is imperative to do a cardiogram, because it is very important for a doctor to know what the ECG will show.
Most often, a heart attack is associated directly with the heart. But it is not so. A heart attack can occur in any organ. Pulmonary infarction occurs (when lung tissuepartially or completely die off if there is a blockage of the arteries).
There is a cerebral infarction (in other words, ischemic stroke) - the death of brain tissue, which can be caused by thrombosis or rupture of cerebral vessels. With a cerebral infarction, functions such as speech, physical movement, and sensitivity can completely go astray or disappear.
When a person has a heart attack, living tissue dies or dies in his body. The body loses tissue or part of an organ, as well as the functions performed by this organ.
Myocardial infarction is the death or ischemic necrosis of areas or areas of the heart muscle itself due to complete or partial loss of blood supply. Heart muscle cells begin to die approximately 20-30 minutes after blood flow stops. If a person has a myocardial infarction, blood circulation is disturbed. One or more blood vessels fail. Most often, heart attacks occur due to blockage of blood vessels by blood clots (atherosclerotic plaques). The zone of distribution of the infarction depends on the severity of the disruption of the organ, for example, extensive myocardial infarction or microinfarction. Therefore, do not immediately despair if the ECG shows a heart attack.
It becomes a threat to the work of the entire cardiovascular system of the body and threatens life. In the modern period, heart attacks are the main cause of death among the population.developed countries of the world.
Heart attack symptoms
- Dizziness.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Pain in the neck, shoulder, which can radiate to the back, numbness.
- Cold sweat.
- Nausea, full stomach feeling.
- Chest tightness.
- Heartburn.
- Cough.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Loss of appetite.
Main signs of myocardial infarction
- Intense pain in the region of the heart.
- Pain that does not stop after taking nitroglycerin.
- If the duration of the pain is already more than 15 minutes.
Causes of a heart attack
- Atherosclerosis.
- Rheumatism.
- Congenital heart disease.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Smoking, obesity.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Vasculitis.
- Increased blood viscosity (thrombosis).
- Previously suffered heart attacks.
- Severe spasms of the coronary artery (for example, when taking cocaine).
- Age changes.
Also, ECG can detect other diseases, such as tachycardia, arrhythmia, ischemic disorders.
Arrhythmia
What to do if the ECG showed an arrhythmia?
Arrhythmia can be characterized by numerous changes in the contraction of the heartbeat.
Arrhythmia is a condition in which there is a violation of the heart rhythm and heart rate. More often this pathology is marked by a heartbeat failure; the patient has a rapid, then a slow heartbeat. An increase is observedwhen inhaling, and decrease - when exhaling.
Angina
If the patient has attacks of pain under the sternum or to the left of it in the region of the left arm, which can last a few seconds, and can last up to 20 minutes, then the ECG will show angina pectoris.
Pain is usually aggravated by heavy lifting, heavy physical exertion, when going out into the cold and may disappear at rest. Such pains are reduced within 3-5 minutes when taking nitroglycerin. The patient's skin turns pale and the pulse becomes uneven, which causes interruptions in the work of the heart.
Angina is a form of coronary heart disease. It is often difficult to diagnose angina pectoris, because such abnormalities can also occur with other cardiac pathologies. Angina pectoris can further lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Tachycardia
Many are very worried when they find out that the ECG showed tachycardia.
Tachycardia - an increase in heart rate at rest. Heart rhythms with tachycardia can reach up to 100-150 beats per minute. Such a pathology can also occur in people, regardless of age, when lifting weights or with increased physical exertion, as well as with strong psycho-emotional arousal.
Still, tachycardia is considered rather not a disease, but a symptom. But it is no less dangerous. If the heart starts beating too fast, then itmay have time to fill with blood, which further leads to a decrease in blood output and a lack of oxygen in the body, as well as the heart muscle itself. If the tachycardia lasts for more than a month, it can lead to further failure of the heart muscle and an increase in the size of the heart.
Symptoms characteristic of tachycardia
- Dizziness, fainting.
- Weakness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Increased anxiety.
- Feeling of increased heart rate.
- Heart failure.
- Chest pain.
The causes of tachycardia can be: coronary heart disease, various infections, toxic effects, ischemic changes.
Conclusion
Now there are many different diseases of the heart, which can be accompanied by painful and painful symptoms. Before starting their treatment, it is necessary to diagnose, find out the cause of the problem and, if possible, eliminate it.
Today, an electrocardiogram is the only effective method in diagnosing heart pathologies, which is also completely harmless and painless. This method is suitable for everyone - both children and adults, and is also affordable, effective and highly informative, which is very important in modern life.
