WHAT IS

 ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY?

 

An electrocardiogram —

abbreviated as EKG or ECG — is a

 test that measures the electrical

activity of the heartbeat. With each

 beat, an electrical impulse (or

“wave”) travels through the heart.

 This wave causes the muscle to

squeeze and pump blood from the

heart. A normal heartbeat on ECG

 will show the timing of the top and

 lower chambers.

 

The right and left atria, or upper

 chambers, make the first wave

called a “P wave" — following a flat

 line when the electrical impulse

goes to the bottom chambers. The

 right and left bottom chambers, or

 ventricles, make the next wave

called a “QRS complex." The final

wave or “T wave” represents

electrical recovery or return to

a resting state for the ventricles.

 

An ECG gives two major kinds of

 information. First, by measuring

time intervals on the ECG, a doctor

 can determine how long the

electrical wave takes to pass

through the heart. Finding out how

 long a wave takes to travel from

one part of the heart to the next

shows if the electrical activity is

 normal or slow, fast or irregular.

Second, by measuring the amount

 of electrical activity passing

through the heart muscle, a

cardiologist may be able to find

 out if parts of the heart are too

large or are overworked.

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