About-Cardio
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We provide our users the most up-to-date and accurate information on the treatment and prevention of cardio pathologies in accordance with current American and European clinical guidelines.
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Understanding EKG (Electrocardiogram) Readings
Introduction
An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a crucial test used to evaluate the electrical activity of the heart. It helps detect heart diseases such as arrhythmias, heart attacks, and other cardiac conditions.
How an EKG Works
The heart generates electrical impulses that regulate its contractions. The EKG records these impulses and displays them as waves on a monitor or paper. The main components of an EKG reading include:
- P wave: Represents atrial depolarization (atrial contraction)
- QRS complex: Indicates ventricular depolarization (ventricular contraction)
- T wave: Represents ventricular repolarization (recovery phase)
A normal EKG has a regular rhythm with a heart rate between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm).
Common Abnormalities in an EKG
- Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats (e.g., atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia)
- Bradycardia: Slow heart rate (<60 bpm)
- Tachycardia: Fast heart rate (>100 bpm)
- ST elevation: May indicate a myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- ST depression or T-wave inversion: May point to ischemia (reduced blood flow to the heart)
Why Is an EKG Important?
- Diagnoses heart attacks and arrhythmias
- Monitors heart function in patients with known heart disease
- Enables early detection of heart conditions before symptoms worsen
How to Interpret an EKG?
While computerized EKG readers exist, only a trained cardiologist or physician should confirm an interpretation to avoid misdiagnosis.
If you have concerns about your EKG results, consult a healthcare professional immediately.
Source recommendations
1. American Heart Association Guidelines on Electrocardiograms
- https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/diagnosing-a-heart-attack/electrocardiogram-ecg-or-ekg
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.108.191095
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19281932/
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.106.180200
- https://cpr.heart.org/en/courses/acls-prep-ecg-pharmacology
2. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on Cardiac Arrhythmias
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Ventricular-Arrhythmias-and-the-Prevention-of-Sudden-Cardiac-Death
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/43/40/3997/6675633
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Supraventricular-Tachycardia
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36017572/
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/01.cir.0000091380.04100.84
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If you or your loved ones experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor in time. Remember that self-medication can be dangerous, and timely diagnosis will preserve the quality and life expectancy.
The heart is an organ that does not know how to "keep silent" if something goes wrong. Chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, and rhythm disturbances are the symptoms that require our attention. The best prevention of heart disease is careful attention to your health, regular checkups with a doctor, and a healthy lifestyle. Take care of your heart, and it will serve you for many years!
Our advantages:
Best practices from USA, EU and Japan
Our answers to your questions are based on the clinical recommendations of countries with the most developed healthcare systems in the field of cardiology in the USA, the EU and Japan.
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We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
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Every 3-5 years, half of the scientific approaches to treatment in the field of cardiology are reviewed as a result of specialized scientific discoveries. With us, you don't have to wait these years to learn about the best ways to treat you and your loved ones.