In all types of medical conditions, an accurate diagnosis is essential. This minimizes the time and money ordinarily wasted in treatments that will do little for your health. As such, you should not be apprehensive of spending top dollar on the right methods of diagnosis. Most doctors nowadays rely on studies that give them a view of the functioning of your internal body organs. With the rise in cardiac disease and most issues being related to heart conditions, electrocardiograms (ECG) are among the most common imaging procedures.
An ECG at a private ultrasound scan center based in the UK will detect abnormalities of the heart. It does this by measuring the electrical energy your heart will generate on its contraction. You will have probes placed on different sections of your chest, wrists, and ankles to pick this information that is then recorded on an electrocardiograph and traced on a paper. ECGs are generally recommended for patients who present with chest pain dizziness, irregular heartbeats, and fainting spells. They nonetheless can also be used to monitor the response to treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. Here are the ECG types a medical practitioner might prescribe for your case.
Exercise ECG
This is also known as a stress or treadmill test since it is carried out when you are exercising. You can be pedaling on a stationary bike or using a treadmill with the probes placed in your chest to pick your heart’s tolerance to the stress caused by exercise. Exercise ECG will also monitor your blood pressure and breathing rates. It is often used for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and to detect your safe exercising levels when recovering from surgery or a heart attack.
Holter Monitor
This determines the functioning of your heart within 24 hours. With a Holter monitor, small electrodes will be placed in different sections of your arms, leg, and chest. These electrodes are then connected using lead wires to a portable ECG machine that will record your cardiac function for 24 hours. The physician can then print out this recording and interpret your heart’s functioning.
Resting 12-Lead ECG
This is the standard test for heart functioning. It is taken when you are lying down with 12 electrodes on your legs, arms, and chest at the same time. The resting 12-lead ECG is often used for routine cardiac monitoring. It picks any abnormalities that might heighten your risk of cardiac disease or signs that indicate its initial stages.
Signal-Averaged ECG
This is generally the most detailed ECG. During a signal-averaged ECG, several tracings will be obtained within about 20 minutes while you are lying down. The procedure is often used to pick intermittent episodes of abnormal heartbeats that a resting 12-lead ECG will miss. It is usually ordered in those with risk factors for cardiac disease.
Before you get one of these types of ECG, you often do not need to fast or have any elaborate preparations. You, however, should notify the practitioner of any medications you are taking and if you have a pacemaker. These might interfere with the results and should thus be considered.
