Your Health

By Shirley Learthart

Mind your Ps and Qs...

An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a test to show all the electrical activity in the heart. It involves sticking electrodes around the chest area and one on each leg and arm. Wires are then clipped to these electrodes to give a graph of heart electrical activity. The ECG is completely non-invasive and takes only about 10 minutes.

Most ECGs show completely normal heart activity which can be reassuring, especially to those with a family history of heart disease or those who haven’t yet started an exercise regime. ECG can also show very early signs of heart problems before symptoms are present. In 40% of heart attacks, changes can be seen on the ECG up to a year before it happens so action can then be taken to prevent the heart attack.

• Atrial contractions show up as the P wave.
• Ventricular contractions show as a series known as the QRS complex.
• The third wave in an ECG is the T wave. This is the electrical activity produced when the ventricles are recharging for the next contraction (repolarizing).

Just like fingerprints, each person’s ECG is individual. However, unlike fingerprints the ECG shows changes during a person’s lifetime. Even drinking too much caffeine can show ECG changes.

Prevention is better than cure concerning all aspects of health and an annual ECG can recognise small asymptomatic problems which can be easily rectified before they lead to more significant problems.

Shirley

For more preventative health information,
you can visit my website at:
www.vitalsigns-health.co.uk