Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a main type of test we are using in the medical field. At present most people around the world are focusing on this test because it is easier than other tests. ECGs are helping medical officers for diagnose patients’ heart processes so they are given proper medication in proper time. To do so you must have a better knowledge about how ECGs work and how to read them. This article will give you a better knowledge about them and more about heart process. So let’s begin…..

What is an ECG ?

ECG or electrocardiogram in long form is a graph that shows the electric activation in the heart. This is a major test among others for heart patients. The process of getting ECG can be briefed as follows

Electric current flowing through the fiber system that is all over the heart system coordinates the parts of heart. Some changes occur in this natural electric current while flowing through S.A (Sinoatrial) node to A.V (Atrioventricular) node in the heart (more in the next chapter). These changes are identified by the machine named Electrocardiography. The graph sheet inserted is traced with these changes by this device. It is called permanent tracing. This graphical report is the Electrocardiogram or ECG

There are 5 main wave types in above ECG graph. You can identify those 5 types from the given diagram named P, Q, R, S and T. ECG is a combination of these that represent the electric current in the myocardium of the heart

P – Waves occur during atrial contraction

Q, R, S – Waves occurred by cell contraction

T – Waves occurred by relaxation of cells

ECGs help to identify the inactive places of the heart and heart arrhythmia. So that doctors could give a better diagnose about the patients and proper medication. That helps people to get rid of heart diseases in a short time by identifying the level of disease

Electric activation in the heart

In this chapter let’s see the heart’s electric activities and the circulation process. Mainly the central nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system supply nerves to the heart. These nerve supply is the main source of the electric activation in the heart. Also the 10^th cranial nerve called verge nerve supply nerves to the heart and the special process of that is stimulating the S.A (Sinoatrial) node and A.V (Atrioventricular) node. That stimulation starts generating electricity in the heart muscle

This S.A node is also called the pacemaker. The electrical discharge that is created in this S.A node directly effect on the heart rate that generated by the heart muscle

When we considered about the electric process in these S.A node and A.V node it happens like this. First the electrical discharge transmits from S.A node to A.V node via intermodal pathways. Then the electrical impulses transmit from the A.V node through the Bundle of His

Bundle of His are divided in to two main bundles

1. Left bundle
2. Right bundle

These two parts are disperse through the cell walls of the heart. Those nerve bundle is known as Purkinje fiber. From this way electrical discharge flow all through the heart muscles from starting at the S.A node. Also they help pumping blood all over the body by heart contraction

Correct methods of taking ECG

ECG is a trending test worldwide because of its accuracy and harmless. But to get better results from this test we have to know the correct way of doing this test. Basically I’m going to tell you the main ways of getting ECGs correctly. From that we can get a correct ECG graph

There are mainly two types of leads we are using for this test. They are

1. Limb leads
2. Chest leads

Let’s talk about one by one then

Limb leads

In this type of lead, the required data is taking from the wires connected to hands and legs. But don’t be afraid. It’s not too much hard like you think. It’s a simple thing. So by this way we get main 4 limb lead measurements. From that four, we can get the final 6values that we need to tell the status of the patient. Those are

• Standard limb leads – L1, L2, L3
• Augmented limb leads – aVR, AVL, aVF

These values might be new for you. But your medical team exactly know what those are. So you don’t get panic. They will handle it. I’m just telling you for a brief knowledge

Chest leads

This is also a common way of getting ECGs. In this type ECG is getting by observing from several sides of the heart. As above, we use chest leads V1 to V6 for getting data. In a time of necessity, we can take data from right side of V4 named V4R too

So now I think you have a better knowledge about how this thing works and what are the ways of working

If you wanna know about the tests other that ECGs for a heart patient see this 10 Modern Medical Tests For Heart Patients. It will give you a brief knowledge about the tests and what suits you most. It’s good to check your health status time to time with these tests because we don’t know the time which we get sick

So now you know about the ECG test than me I guess. You know about what is ECG, how it works, heart process, ways of getting ECGs and many many more things. So I hope you will get the knowledge you needed to know about these ECGs well. If that’s so my work is done. If you are not go through this again and again. Your health guider is always with you. So you know the main facts about ECGs. Let’s meet with some interesting articles ahead. Be safe guys