An ECG machine, also known as an electrocardiogram, is a diagnostic device used in patients with heart problems. Doctors usually order this test for patients who report anxiety, dizziness, weakness, difficulty breathing, chest pain and shortness of breath, to name just a few of them.
What can an ECG machine do?
This machine works by registering electrical impulses emitted by the heart. This non-invasive diagnostic procedure can detect the following:
Heart rate and regularity
· Location and size of the heart chambers
· Painful or damaged tissues, as well as structural abnormalities
· Pacemakers and surgical repair, as well as the effects of certain drugs on the heart
One thing that this machine cannot measure is blood flow.
ECG Machine Parts
This machine consists of different designs. The largest part is the circuit in which the machine is located. It is connected to several electrodes, depending on the type of machine. These electrodes detect pulses, which are then recorded in pairs. Each pair is called lead.
Types of electrocardiogram Cars
There are several types of electrocardiograms for various purposes. Generally, hospitals have 3-lead ECG and 5-lead ECG machines that are considered portable. They are used to monitor the patient's heart activity during surgery or during transportation in an ambulance. 3-wire and 5-lead machines can control only a limited amount of cardiac activity.
Another model is a 12-lead ECG. As the name suggests, it records the activity of the heart from twelve different angles. Since its results are more complete, this test is preferred by most doctors, as it is more useful for monitoring and diagnosing patients with heart disease.
How does a 12-lead electrocardiogram work?
In this study, six electrodes are attached to the chest area. Four electrodes are located on both arms and legs. These ten electrodes are combined in such a way that they can measure from twelve different angles of the heart.
Every time the heart beats, depolarization occurs, and this is what the electrodes feel in the skin. The detected pulses relate to the machine, which then prints the result on special paper - ECG paper, which has squares of 1 millimeter in size each.
In a healthy heart, the machine accumulates an ordered wave of progress in each heartbeat, but in sick or troubled hearts it can show results that show unevenness in terms of positioning, size or rhythm.
Detected conditions
· Cardiac murmur thought of inadequate blood flow to the heart. Although most murmurs are normal, some events are caused by a narrowed or block artery or vein.
· Arrhythmia - irregular heartbeats (slow or fast) caused by abnormal electrical impulses in the heart.
· Myocardial infarction - commonly known as “heart attack”. It is characterized by the cessation of cardiac activity due to the deprivation of oxygen due to blocked vessels.
· Fainting or convulsions - to determine if the cause of the cause of heart disease is the cause.
Please note that the ECG machine is only a diagnostic tool, and not a form of treatment for any of these heart problems.
