ECG
What can an ECG (electrocardiogram) show?
An electrocardiogram can be a useful way to find out whether your high blood pressure has caused any damage to your heart or blood vessels. Because of this, you may be asked to have an ECG when you are first diagnosed with high blood pressure.Some of the things an ECG reading can detect are:
- cholesterol clogging up your heart’s blood supply
- a heart attack in the past
- enlargement of one side of the heart
- abnormal heart rhythms
How is an ECG carried out?
An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a safe and painless test which normally only takes a few minutes.Leads from an electrocardiograph machine are attached to the skin on your arms, legs and chest using sticky patches. These leads read signals from your heart and send this information to the electrocardiograph. The machine then prints the reading on a paper strip or on a screen.
There are three main types of ECG:
- Resting ECG – if your doctor is interests in how your heart is working while you are at rest, you will be asked to lie down and relax while the heartbeat is being recorded.
- Exercise ECG – your doctor may be interested in how your heart reacts to activity and you will be asked to walk or run on a treadmill or cycle on an exercise bike while your heartbeat is recorded.
- 24-hour ECG – sometimes it can be helpful to monitor your heartbeat throughout the day, in which case you will be asked to wear a small electrocardiograph machine. The recordings from the machine are then read by your doctor when you return the machine.
Who will carry out my electrocardiogram?
You may be able to have your ECG in your GP surgery. However not all surgeries have this equipment so you may be referred to a local hospital to carry out the test.Is there anything I need to do before an ECG (electrocardiogram)?
If you are having a resting ECG, there is no need to do anything different before having the test.It is also helpful to avoid eating a meal or drinking a caffeinated drink for two hours before the test because these can affect your heart’s rhythm.
心电图能显示什么?
心电图检查可能是找出高血压是否对心脏或血管造成任何损害的有用方法。因此,初次诊断为高血压时,可能会要求您进行ECG检查。
ECG读数可以检测到的一些东西是:
胆固醇阻塞心脏的血液供应
过去心脏病发作
心脏一侧的扩大
心律异常
心电图如何进行?
心电图(心电图)是一种安全且无痛的测试,通常只需几分钟。
心电图机的导线使用粘性贴片附着在手臂,腿部和胸部的皮肤上。这些导线从您的心脏读取信号,并将此信息发送到心电图仪。然后机器将读数打印在纸带或屏幕上。
ECG有三种主要类型:
休息心电图–如果您的医生对休息时心脏的工作方式感兴趣,则在记录心跳时会要求您躺下放松。
运动心电图–您的医生可能会对您的心脏对活动的反应感兴趣,并且会在记录心跳时要求您在跑步机上行走或跑步或骑自行车运动。
24小时心电图–有时全天监测您的心跳很有帮助,在这种情况下,系统会要求您佩戴小型心电图仪。然后,当您退回机器时,医生会读取机器中的录音。
谁来进行我的心电图检查?
您可能可以在GP手术中使用心电图。但是,并非所有的手术都配备此设备,因此您可能会被转介到当地医院进行测试。
心电图检查之前我需要做些什么吗?
如果您的ECG处于静止状态,则在进行测试之前无需做任何其他操作。
在测试前两个小时内避免进餐或喝含咖啡因的饮料也有帮助,因为它们会影响您的心脏韵律。