An electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important cardiac diagnostic and monitoring test. There are several reasons why your GP or cardiologist may recommend that you need an ECG:
If you are experiencing concerning symptoms:
If you are experiencing concerning symptoms that could be indicative of certain heart conditions, the cardiologist will likely recommend an electrocardiogram (ECG) test to investigate your symptoms in more detail and try to determine the cause of your symptoms. The types of symptoms that are frequently investigated by an ECG are:
· chest pain
· shortness of breath
· heart palpitations (for example, feeling like your heart is pounding or fluttering)
· dizziness or light-headedness
· unexplained fainting
· severe and unexplained tiredness or lethargy
To diagnose an arrhythmia:
More than 2 million people in the UK are currently diagnosed with arrhythmias. The most common and effective way of diagnosing arrhythmias is with an ECG. An ECG measures your cardiac electrical activity and assesses the timing and duration of every electrical phase in your heartbeat. It can assess the electrical activity of your heart and your heart’s rhythm and detect any abnormalities. You should have an ECG as early as possible following any symptoms consistent with arrhythmia to help you manage your condition.
To diagnose another heart condition:
ECGs are also used to detect other heart conditions, including coronary heart disease (when the blood supply in your heart is blocked by a build-up of fatty substances in your arteries) and cardiomyopathy(when the walls of your heart become thickened or enlarged). If an ECG indicates one of these conditions, the cardiologist may recommend another type of cardiac test to confirm the diagnosis.
To determine if you are currently having or previously had a heart attack:
An ECG can detect a heart attack while it is happening or detect any damage that occurred following a previous heart attack. Because an ECG records electrical signals as they travel through your heart, unusual patterns on an ECG can help to determine the part of the heart that has been damaged and how severe the damage is. An ECG is also used to establish the type of heart attack you had and the most effective treatment option. An ECG can also help to predict whether a future heart attack is likely, for example, by detecting abnormalities in your heart’s electrical pattern.
To determine your overall heart health:
An ECG may be recommended to determine your heart’s overall health before surgery or another procedure to ensure that your heart is strong and healthy enough to handle the procedure. Athletes are also often recommended or requested to have an ECG as a way of screening for heart abnormalities and preventing sudden cardiac deaths (which is the leading cause of death among young athletes). Athletes may be requested to undergo an ECG before signing a contract or before performing competitively.
To monitor an existing heart condition:
If you have previously been diagnosed with a heart condition, an ECG can be used to monitor your condition and check that it is not progressing or worsening. If you have previously had an ECG, an updated ECG can be used to compare the recordings and assess any changes in your results.
To monitor the effectiveness of your medication:
If you currently take cardiac medication, such asantiarrhythmics, an ECG may be used to monitor your cardiac health and theongoing effectiveness of the medication. ECGs are also used to assess how well a pacemaker is working and to determine the cause of a pacemaker malfunction.
