What is an electrocardiogram and how is it done?

What is the heart strip (electrocardiogram) and what are its uses? **Heart tape** or **Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)** is one of the most important and widely used medical tests to check **heart health**. This non-invasive and painless test records the electrical activity of the heart and provides doctors with very important information about the state of the heart's function. ### How does an EKG work? The human heart uses electrical signals to beat regularly. These signals cause the heart muscle to contract and pump blood throughout the body. The EKG receives and records these electrical signals from the surface of the skin using small electrodes that are placed on the chest, arms and legs. The result of this recording is a graphic diagram that shows the electrical activity of the heart in the form of curves. By analyzing these curves, doctors can get a lot of information about the heartbeat, its rhythm, and the function of different parts of the heart. ### Applications of ECG - **Diagnosis of arrhythmias**: EKG helps to identify **abnormal heartbeats** such as very fast or very slow beats. - **Diagnosis of heart attack or cardiac ischemia**: Certain changes in the ECG chart can indicate a decrease in blood flow to the heart muscle or damage caused by a heart attack. - **Investigation of structural problems of the heart**: ECG can show some **problems with heart valves** or enlargement of parts of the heart. - **Evaluation of the effect of drugs or medical devices**: ECG is used to check the effects of cardiac drugs or devices such as pacemakers. - **Checking the patient's condition before surgery**: Most doctors take an echocardiogram before **surgery** to make sure of the health of the heart. **How to perform ECG test** **EKG test** is very simple, quick and painless. The patient sits or lies on a bed or chair, and the medical technician attaches small electrodes to the chest, wrists, and ankles. The device then records the electrical activity of the heart for several minutes. Usually, no special preparation is needed and this test can be done at any age. Once finished, the results are ready immediately and the doctor can review it. ### Important points about ECG - ECG only shows electrical activity and is not enough to diagnose all heart diseases; Additional tests such as echocardiography or exercise testing may be needed. - In some cases, the normal ECG may be normal, but there are heart problems; Therefore, the interpretation of the results should be done by a cardiologist. - ECG is recommended periodically for people who have or are at risk of heart disease. Fetal ECG Fetal electrocardiogram (Fetal ECG) is an important tool to check fetal heart health during pregnancy. This test is performed by special devices and often with ultrasound to record the heartbeat and its rhythm in the mother's womb. Fetal ECG helps the doctor to diagnose heart problems or fetal stress in time and to take appropriate treatment or care measures if needed. ECG of the baby Neonatal EKG is also one of the key methods to evaluate the heart health of a newborn child. Because congenital heart problems can appear early in a baby's life, routine EKGs or when certain symptoms are noticed are critical for prompt diagnosis and timely treatment. Small and soft electrodes for babies are used to perform this test in order to cause minimal discomfort. ECG of pregnant women During pregnancy, many physiological changes occur in a woman's body that can affect heart function. ECG of pregnant women allows the doctor to monitor the condition of the mother's heart and detect possible problems such as arrhythmia or high blood pressure earlier. This test is usually used in prenatal care as a simple and effective diagnostic tool. **Dr. Marvarid Dadres**, **cardiology and echocardiography specialist, works in Tehran and Roudhen**. They provide professional services in various cardiac fields, including ECG, echocardiography, exercise test, stress test, and specialized cardiac consultations. If you need to perform **Heart strip in Shariati Tehran**, please contact us to arrange an appointment and get more information.