ECG

• The Electrocardiogram is a diagnostic tool that measures and records the electrical activity of the heart in exquisite detail. Interpretation of these details allows diagnosis of a wide range of heart conditions. These conditions can vary from minor to life threatening.
• The ECG is the most commonly performed cardiac test. This is because the ECG is a useful screening tool for a variety of cardiac abnormalities.
• The information obtained from an electrocardiogram can be used to discover different types of heart disease. It may be also useful for seeing how well the patient is responding to treatment.
• It is a good idea to have an ECG in the case of symptoms such as dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing), chest pain (angina), fainting, palpitations or when someone can feel that their own heart beat is abnormal.
• The test can show evidence of disease in the coronary arteries.
• An ECG can be used to assess if the patient has had a heart attack or evidence of a previous heart attack.
• An ECG can be used to monitor the effect of medicines used for coronary artery disease.