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What do electrocardiograms test for?
An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in your heart. It’s a common and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor your heart’s health. Electrocardiograms — also called ECGs or EKGs — are often done in a doctor’s office, a clinic or a hospital room.
What does an echocardiogram reveal?
An echocardiogram checks how your heart’s chambers and valves are pumping blood through your heart. An echocardiogram uses electrodes to check your heart rhythm and ultrasound technology to see how blood moves through your heart. An echocardiogram can help your doctor diagnose heart conditions.
What disorders can an EKG detect?
You may have an EKG as part of a routine exam to screen for heart disease. This test also is used to detect and study heart problems such as heart attacks, arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat, and heart failure. Results from this test also may suggest other heart disorders.
What conditions can a Holter monitor detect?
It helps your doctor diagnose and monitor abnormal heartbeats (cardiac arrhythmias) and decreased blood supply to the heart muscle (myocardial ischemia). A Holter monitor can detect abnormal heartbeats and other abnormal EKG changes that a standard EKG can miss.
What happens if my echocardiogram is abnormal?
Symptoms include bulging neck veins, swelling in the arms, nausea, and fainting. Abnormal echocardiogram results help doctors determine if further testing is necessary or if you need to be placed on a treatment plan. When it comes to your heart, there is no room for taking risks.
Do cell phones interfere with Holter monitors?
Close proximity to magnets, metal detectors, high-voltage electrical wires, and electrical appliances such as shavers, toothbrushes, and microwave ovens. Cell phones and MP3 players can also interfere with the signals and should be kept at least 6 inches away from the monitor box.
What can you not do while wearing a heart monitor?
Certain devices can interrupt the signal from the electrodes and distort your Holter monitor test results. Stay away from microwaves, electric blankets, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, and metal detectors.
What does an echocardiogram tell the Doctor?
An echocardiogram (echo) provides a large amount of information about the heart to the doctor. It tells him or her many things, including the size of the heart, the function, how thick the walls of the heart are, how the valves are working, if the valves appear normal or thickened and if there is any fluid around the heart.
What can an electrocardiogram Tell Me?
An ECG (electrocardiogram) records the electrical activity of your heart at rest. It provides information about your heart rate and rhythm, and shows if there is enlargement of the heart due to high blood pressure (hypertension) or evidence of a previous heart attack (myocardial infarction).
What are the risks of an electrocardiogram?
Risks of Electrocardiograms . Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are safe, noninvasive, painless tests and have no major risks. The electrodes (sticky patches) that connect the sensors to your chest do not send out electric shocks. You may develop a mild rash or skin irritation where the electrodes were attached.
How accurate is an electrocardiogram?
Her study of nearly 15,000 people found that the blood test plus the usual electrocardiogram (EKG) of the heartbeat were 99 percent accurate at showing which patients could safely be sent home rather than be admitted for observation and more diagnostics.