Read about the latest news on ECG / EKG Machines

Defined as a resting heart rate that is lower than sixty beats per minute, Bradycardia is asymptomatic in most people unless their heart rate falls below 50 beats per minute. Because the beats-per-minute ratio also indicates the amount of oxygen that gets to the heart, when this occurs, it can result in shortness of breath, fainting, cardiac arrest and even death.

One way to detect this less common form of arrhythmia is by getting regular checkups and electrocardiograms at a doctor’s office. However, since many patients suffering from bradycardia have no symptoms, it is a condition that often goes undetected for years.

Some especially healthy individuals, such as trained athletes, have a resting heart rate that is low enough to be considered an arrhythmia by some standards, but when no other symptoms are present it is not a concern. Known as “resting bradycardia”, it is possible for a person’s heart rate to go as low as 28 beats per minute.

It is “relative bradycardia”, when a patient’s heart rate is too slow for his or her current medical condition, that can become a problem. This type of arrhythmia is often caused by a problem with the sinus node of the heart, and will show up on an EKG machine test.

Some of the most common causes of bradycardia are detectable in an EKG, since most of these are caused by changes in rhythm or electrical impulses within the atrioventricular (AV) node. These conditions, known as AV junction rhythm, AV junctional escape and ventricular escape rhythm, are what most physicians are looking for in their EKG testing.

For infants, however, bradycardia occurs when their heart rate is under 100 beats per minute. This condition is more common among premature infants and often relates to the areas of the brain that regulate breathing not being fully developed. A neo-natal intensive care unit will electronically monitor babies with this condition while administering drugs that increase the heart rate.

Technorati Tags: ecg, ECG Machines, EKG, EKG Machines, Used Medical Equipment

If you have been diagnosed with arrhythmia, it is often difficult to know how serious the problem really is. Arrhythmias, or abnormal heart beats, affect many segments of the population, even children, and may or may not be something to worry about. Some arrhythmias are “chronic”, meaning they occur on a consistent basis and can be tracked on an EKG machine. Others are temporary, which means they can be caused by external influences such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco and certain chemical agents. These are more difficult to identify because they occur sporadically throughout the day.

Because some arrhythmias happens so quickly, the patient’s overall heart rhythm is not affected, but when an arrhythmia lasts longer, it can affect the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. Arrhythmia is broken down into two basic categories: Tachycardia is a fast heartbeat and bradycardia is a slow heart rate.

Typically, the heart rate is faster during stress or physical activity and slower when the body is at rest. Even when there is no sign of heart disease, about 20 percent of adults will have frequent premature ventricular beats, including brief episodes of tachycardia, during a 24 hour period.

The most worrisome type of arrhythmia is caused by damage to the heart muscle, usually from a heart attack. Heart attacks often cause scarring and deposits of abnormal tissue, which can interfere with AV conduction. This often creates areas of electrically “inert” heart tissue, or areas where cells fire abnormally.

Not all arrhythmias are detectable through electrocardiograms, and not all of them have detectable symptoms. However, most patients with a life-threatening arrhythmia will have some symptoms, such as fatigue, fainting, a fluttering feeling in the chest, or difficulty breathing. When these symptoms arise, it is important for patients to visit their doctor immediately for a full EKG work-up.

Technorati Tags: ecg, ECG Machines, EKG, EKG Machines, Used Medical Equipment

Most heart patients do not take the time to learn about the anatomy of the heart, or how an EKG machine is designed to diagnose heart disease, but cardiologists have found that the more a patient understands about the way the heart works, the better equipped they are to ask the right questions. As a result, the American Heart Association strongly recommends that patients learn the mechanics of the heart and how the variables of lifestyle and medicine can impact its overall health.

The AHA describes the heart’s basic functions on its web site, starting with the heart’s four chambers and four valves.

* Two lower chambers are called the ventricles
* The two upper chambers are known as atria (plural) or atrium (singular)

The four valves of the heart are what make the blood flow through the heart as the muscle contracts, while ensuring that blood only flows in one direction. Each valve has flaps that respond to variances in pressure by opening and closing in sequence.

* The pulmonary valve, which is between the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle
* The tricuspid valve, which sits between the right ventricle and atrium
* The aortic valve, which is between the left ventricle and aorta
* The mitral valve is between the left ventricle and atrium

Since the heart works best when blood flow in an organized sequence of contractions within each chamber, physicians are trained to recognize when a patient’s heart is not functioning normally. An EKG machine can detect a cardiac arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat by recognizing a change in sequence from the heart’s normal electrical impulses. While some arrhythmias are nothing to worry about, others can put a patient at risk for life threatening blood clots. The only way for doctors to diagnose an arrhythmia is through regular EKG screenings.

Technorati Tags: ecg, ECG Machines, EKG, EKG Machines, Used Medical Equipment

As the baby boom generation ages, more and more Americans are being diagnosed with heart disease every year. While coronary artery disease won’t completely go away, the American Heart Association offers very specific advice to keep the symptoms to a minimum and to prevent life-threatening events. For starters, the AHA advises anyone who is suffering from heart disease to get regular checkups at their doctor’s office, including a stress EKG test, a resting ECG exam and specific types of blood work.

What types of blood tests are necessary?

In addition to monitoring patients on EKG machines, doctors look for other risk factors by doing routine blood tests, including:

* Cholesterol check, which are used to detect a patient’s “bad” LDL cholesterol versus their good cholesterol
* Triglycerides
* Blood sugar levels

What is a “heart healthy” lifestyle?

Another way that regular checkups can help is by monitoring a patient’s lifestyle, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise and eating habits. Checking in with a doctor regularly can ensure that a patient is following the American Heart Association’s guidelines for a heart-healthy lifestyle.

* Cutting back on saturated fats, trans fats and high-cholesterol foods and replacing them with a diet rich in vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products is recommended
* Regular exercise of at least 30 minutes per day, five days per week is recommended
* Quitting smoking is must when dealing with heart disease, and a doctor can recommend ways to do this with medications and other programs

Heart attacks and strokes can be avoided when a heart disease patient continues to get regular EKG checks, stress tests and blood tests while following the AHA’s tips for a heart healthy lifestyle.

Technorati Tags: ecg, ECG Machines, EKG, EKG Machines, Used Medical Equipment