Monday, June 15, 2009

Are ECG Electrodes The Same As EKG Electrodes? Part 2


As aforementioned the ECG can catch things before they even happen. This is really an innovative piece of machinery. Its sort of like getting a second chance at life before the first one even expires. I myself was having really bad heart palpitations so they wanted to look inside my heart without actually having to cut into me or do surgery. It's a very noninvasive procedure because there is no surgery whatsoever.



If you do end up having something wrong with your heart and they need to do extra tests you might be diagnosed with something that will need you to undergo surgery but that is something that will be discussed by your doctor later on! A typical ECG drawing of an average pulsation consists of a P wave, a QRS complex and a T wave. The P wave is the electrical key signature of the flow that induces atrial muscle contraction.

Both the left and right atria contract at the same time. The QRS convoluted corresponds to the current that causes muscle contraction of the left and right ventricles, which is much more forceful than that of the atria and involves more muscle mass, therefore resulting in a greater ECG deflection.

The T wave symbolizes the repolarization of the ventricles. The QRS complex usually hides the atrial repolarization wave so that it is not commonly seen. Electrically, the cardiac muscle cells are like loaded springs. A minute impulse sets them off, they depolarize and reduce. The actual ECG electrodes placement varies between different parts of the body.

For instance, electrode label V2 is in the fourth intercostal space (between ribs 4 & 5) to the left of the sternum. Obviously you don't really need to concern yourself with this very much - your doctor has all the information and knowledge about what goes where and why. The ecg electrodes will be placed on varying parts of your body with the use of an electrode pad and gel. Once the pads are in place the doctor will then "record" what is going on with the heart and other ventricles and muscles.

The whole process takes about 2 hours to explain but the actual procedure only takes but 3 or 4 minutes. Very simple. Very easy. And it saves thousands of people's lives every single year! This is the type of machine that looks and sounds a little scary at first but it's really a part of technology that we should all be happy exists. If you want even more information there is a ton of places online you can find guides, manuals, FAQ and even illustrations of the machine itself along with any counterparts.

Are ECG Electrodes The Same As EKG Electrodes? Part 1

If you want to get super technical about the ECG electrodes versus the EKG - then no, I guess they do not have their differences. But when most people talk about or define the ECG they just count in the EKG machine as being the same thing even though the EKG is just the German version - Elektrokardiogramm.

This is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. Activity includes things such as; abnormal rhythms of the heart, particularly abnormal rhythms caused by impairment to the semiconducting tissue that carries electrical signals, or abnormal rhythms caused by levels of dissolved salts, such as potassium that are too high or low.

It can also catch other things as well such as heart disease, MVP, heart palpitations, cardiac arrhythmia, congenital heart defects (birth defects), pericarditis and any number of other heart related infarction's. Supposedly, there is even a new machine that can detect hidden heart attacks that haven't even happened yet.

I had one of these a few years back. At first it sounds a little life threatening. You seem to jump ahead to thoughts of things really being wrong. But actually this is a good thing or can be a good thing if your doctor wants you to get one of these tests done.





F.H. Medical Services Provides Samples For Medical Professionals
Click Here For More Information