Perhaps one of the most useful 20th century technologies for the diagnosis of heart disease is the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine. Although much more bulky and heavy than the modern EKG machines in use today, the first device was built at the turn of the century and was considered a huge advancement in medicine. Unlike its bulky ancestors, the modern EKG machine is lightweight and portable; most clinics have them on rolling tables that can be easily transported from room to room.
The use of electrodes for an EKG reading is a relatively new procedure. In the beginning phases of EKG technology, patients were required to place their hands and feet into sodium chloride baths, a conductive method for the faint electric impulses found in the heart. Later, electrical wires were used to transmit heart signals to the machine; eventually the electrodes we use now replaced these wires. If you look at photographs from the late 1800s, the patients look as though they are strapped into an electric chair. Modern methods have made the procedure much more simple, safe, comfortable and accurate.
Today many patients lie on an examination table, although some doctors prefer the electrodes to be attached while the patient is performing moderate exercise. Some patients may be asked to ride a stationary bike or walk on a treadmill. Exercising while attached to the EKG machine may often give the technician or your doctor a better understanding of your heart-function pattern during physical strain.
The electrodes are attached to the EKG machine through cables that produce a graph of your heart’s pattern. Typically 10 to 12 electrodes are attached to the patient and lead to the EKG machine. The electrodes pick up electric impulses that are emitted through various points on the body. The EKG machine converts the impulses into readable waves. The waves are then amplified and displayed on a digital screen for the technician to monitor. While monitoring heart activity, the EKG machine continuously prints the patterns onto a graph that can later be interpreted by the attending technician or your physician.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Picture Your Heart’s Health With EKGs
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Each time your heart beats, the contractions and relaxations of the heart muscle emit electrical current. An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a medical recording of the electric impulses from the heart. Electrodes that send impulses to the EKG machine are attached to the patient’s skin at...
-
The Role of Rhythm Strips for Interpreting EKGs
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Each time the heart beats it emits electrical currents. An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a method in which electrodes are attached at various points on the body. These electrodes are attached to wires that are attached to the EKG machine. The electrodes send waves and impulses...
-
Interpreting an EKG
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
EKGs can assist doctors in diagnosing and determining any current or past heart abnormalities and are often a regular screening for those with heart disease. Through electrodes attached at various strategic body points, the EKG machine records the electrical impulses of the heart. The results...
-
A Guide To ECGs
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a noninvasive test used in the examination of heart disease. Abbreviated from the German Elektrokardiogramm (EKG), this test records the electrical activity of the heart in the form of a continuous strip graph. In the 19th century, it was discovered that...
-
Becoming an EKG Technician
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
EKG technicians assist physicians in diagnosing and treating heart disease, coronary artery disease and a multitude of other heart ailments. These technicians generally specialize in one of three cardiovascular fields: invasive cardiology, echocardiography, and vascular technology. EKG technicians are often referred to as electrocardiograph technicians....
-
The Meaning of Abnormal EKG Results
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Many physicians recommend EKGs as a preventative-screening tool for those with a family history of heart disease. While a healthy person does not need an EKG as a part of an annual exam, many physicians will recommend an EKG if they have concerns. If a...
-
ECG Course
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
ECG course or electrocardiogram interpretation is one of the important clinical tests taught at medical schools. The teaching methods include bedside teaching, lectures (didactic and case-based), textbooks, and computer-based instruction. Courses can also be purchased off the shelves at the bookstore. ECG (electrocardiogram) is the...
-
The Benefits of Portable Defibrillators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The onset of the portable defibrillator has single-handedly taken the life saving measures of the cardiac defibrillator out of the exclusive domain of the emergency room, and into the hands of a general public now able to help fight the tragedy of death by sudden...
-
Modern Sofas
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Sofas have been around for quite some time now. We have sofas made of leather and synthetic material and futon sofas. “Modern” is an adjective used to refer to furniture that was manufactured in the latter half of the twentieth century using contemporary styles. The...
-
Modern Office Chairs
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Modern office chairs refer to office chairs belonging to the period from the latter half of the 20th century up to the present. Designers use the term ‘modern’ more narrowly to refer to the furnishings manufactured in the 50s and 60s in post-war America. Modern...