You may have seen a heart being monitored at a hospital, or even on TV, and wondered what the beeping sounds and the moving lines meant. That’s an electrocardiogram, also referred to as EKG or ECG. Each time your heart beats, an electrical impulse travels through your heart causing the muscles to contract and pump blood to the rest of your body. This electrical impulse is seen as line tracings on a moving strip of paper, or digitally as a moving line on a screen. An EKG records these electrical signals as spikes and dips, called EKG waves.
What is an EKG?
EKGs are insightful tools that can be used to help manage your heart health.
Detecting changes in how your heart is functioning is important, as it may signal early signs of a developing condition. EKGs are one of the best ways to detect and monitor a heart condition before it worsens or becomes a serious health problem. An EKG can also provide reassurance that your heart is functioning the way it should be—whether you have a heart condition or you’re just health-conscious.
What is the difference between heart rate, pulse, and rhythm?
Your heart rate—also called pulse—is the number of times your heart beats per minute, where each beat pumps blood to the rest of your body.
Your heart rhythm is the pattern of your heart rate, which can be normal, too slow (bradycardia), or too fast (tachycardia). Your heart rate and rhythm are both shown on an EKG strip, and a doctor uses both to analyze your heart’s activity.
When and how is an EKG used?
If you have symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, breathlessness, rapid pulse, or weakness, an EKG may be used to better understand the underlying causes and help your doctor develop a proper treatment plan.
An in-hospital EKG machine records 12 leads (or angles) of heart data through 10-12 electrodes, which are placed on a patient’s chest and limbs. The machine records your heart’s electrical activity and displays it as waves, seen in the picture above. The doctor will review the EKG recording and look for any signs of abnormalities in your heart rate, heart rhythm, or even structural abnormalities.
You can take your own EKG at home
Frequent EKGs can be an easy, effective way to monitor your heart function and health, but you don’t always have to go to the doctor’s office to take an EKG. While an in-hospital, 12-lead EKG gives doctors the most detailed picture of your heart’s electrical activity, there are also personal EKGs that record fewer leads but can still detect significant rhythm abnormalities. With AliveCor’s personal EKGs, KardiaMobile (single lead), KardiaMobile Card (single lead), and KardiaMobile 6L (six lead), you can check in on your heart from anywhere. And, Kardia devices can detect more arrhythmias than any other personal EKG. There are no patches, wires, or gels required and it records your heart data right to your smartphone in just 30 seconds. It’s never too soon or too late to start paying attention to your heart health.
