How Multiple Squiggles Reveal Heart Issues: Decoding the ECG
Hello everyone, today we’re going to be discussing the ECG, an important tool used by physicians and cardiologists to determine multiple heart conditions.
What is an ECG?
An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, is an electrical reading of the heart. There are multiple versions of an ECG; however, the more common version is a 12-lead ECG, where 12 wires are taped in specific areas of the body and electrical signals of the heart are recorded in a strip.
The heart runs on electrical signals that signal the muscles in the heart. These muscle contractions pump blood throughout your body. Through recording the electrical signals of the heart, physicians and cardiologists can figure out various heart conditions.
The things physicians are looking for on an ECG
The heart’s electrical signals come in three specific stages. First is what is called the P wave, where the atria, or the upper two chambers of the heart, contract. The next is the QRS complex, which is the largest wave and signals the contraction of the ventricles, or the lower two chambers of the heart. Followed by that is the T wave, where it shows that all of the muscles of the heart relax.
Physicians often look at two different types of recordings of an ECG. First is the combined one-strip ECG, where it combines all the information from the leads and prints it out in one continuous strip. As a result, you will see one waveform at a time, and it’s good for seeing rhythm over long periods of time.
Get Zain Shariff’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
The second type is a multiple-lead ECG, where it shows several leads simultaneously and you’re able to find electrical activity from different directions. There are three main groups: limb leads I, II, and III; the augmented limb leads, known as aVR, aVL, and aVF; and the chest precordial leads, known as V1 to V6. This information can show different directions at the same time and evaluate the electrical activity from multiple perspectives.
Key things that can be shown in an ECG
Some heart attacks can be shown in an ECG through patterns such as ST elevation or non-ST elevation. Additionally, cardiologists who specialize in working with the electrical signals of the heart can find different types of arrhythmias, or abnormal rhythms of the heart, from atrial fibrillation, which is the irregular rhythm of the atria, to ventricular tachycardia, which is the fast rhythm of the ventricles.
From there, physicians can analyze and provide personalized care to a patient.
If you want more articles like this, make sure to follow. Comment your thoughts on the ECG. Make sure to clap to increase its appearance in search results. I have an email subscription to get an email every week on something really intriguing about human biology and bioengineering and with sprinkles of other stuff I have been thinking about. That way you don’t forget.
And that’s about it, I will catch you on the flip flop, I’m out, see yah!
