by Michael A. Morales
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a painless, noninvasive measurement of the heart's electrical activity, and it is a diagnostic tool that is used to determine the condition of the heart (i.e., whether the heart is damaged or poorly functioning). This is helpful either when trying to diagnose an existing complaint or when proactively looking for warning signs. With several electrodes hooked up to standard locations on a patient's body, the electrocardiogram's results are examined for patterns that may be indicators of possible problems.
The heart uses an electrical pulse to initiate and regulate the flow of blood through the heart, and a heartbeat is one full cycle in the process of relaxing and contracting the heart chambers so that blood can enter and then be forced out to the rest of the body. The pulse begins in the right atrium, which contracts and forces blood to the ventricles. The pulse then moves to the ventricle walls, forcing the ventricles to contract, thus pushing the blood out of the heart and to the rest of the body. The pulses also control the direction of the blood flow through a series of valves. The ECG / EKG measures the strength of the pulses in the chambers of the heart, along with the rate at which the pulses are occurring.
When the heart is functioning correctly, oxygenated blood and nutrients are pumped from the heart to the other organs of the body. The blood carries waste (such as carbon dioxide) from the organs to the lungs, where the waste is emitted. If the heart is failing or is injured, the oxygen may not make it to all the organs and the waste may not make it completely out of the body. Those organs and their associated bodily functions are then at risk of failing.
The ECG / EKG can uncover heart attacks; arrhythmia (irregular rhythm of the heart); heart valve problems, congenital heart defects (problem with the heart from birth); heart failure (i.e., the heart is incapable of pumping hard enough to get blood to some organs); and pericarditis, inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.
Electrocardiograms are performed by nurses, doctors, and lab technicians, but typically the results are examined by doctors and cardiologists. If a general physician identifies abnormalities in the ECG / EKG results, he most likely will contact a cardiologist to seek his expertise.