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Premature babies (Preemies) are at risk for heart conditions and the severity of the problem is usually related to how premature the newborn is. Generally, the more premature a baby is, the more likely it is for the heart problems to be severe. Depending in the type of condition, there are several approaches available to treat babies who are premature and have heart conditions. Mild cases often only require health professionals supporting the baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) until the heart gets stronger and matures. While being cared for in NICU, a premature infant with a weak heart is hooked up to EKG machines and is constantly monitored by NICU staff to keep track of their heart rate and blood pressure.

Although stethoscopes can be effective at assessing circulation and other heart conditions, premature babies typically have other diagnostic testing performed. These procedures are able to provide a more detailed picture of the heart and how it is functioning. Measuring oxygen levels in the blood can also be an indicator of heart function since the lungs and heart work collaboratively to bring in and distribute oxygen to all of the organs and tissues in the body.

EKG machines can provide a physician with an Electrocardiogram which records the heart’s electric activity on a graph. A standard EKG is a painless procedure that takes about ten minutes to perform. Test results provide doctors and other health professionals with crucial information pertaining to heart rate and the current size of the heart muscle. Typically, small stickers, known as electrodes, are placed on the baby’s chest, arms, and legs which record the heart’s activity. The test takes about ten minutes to perform and is completely painless. Treatment is geared toward getting the heart to function in a normal capacity so that it is regularly pumping and adequate supply of blood through the vessels and allowing oxygen to flow freely.

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Many troublesome health issues can go unnoticed in dogs since they are not normally checked and diagnosed during a yearly, routine physical examination. For example, certain breeds of dogs are more predisposed to heart conditions and these hazardous heart conditions may go undetected without an EKG test. It is important for dog owners to remember that 12 months is 7 years metabolically for their dog, and a lot can happen in 7 years. If the vet detects an abnormal sounding heartbeat during a standard exam, they may typically choose to use x-rays to determine the size and shape of the heart and lungs. In addition to x-rays, a veterinarian may order an EKG.

Electrocardiographs can measure different types of arrhythmias as well as other common cardiac conditions. EKG testing is a painless, noninvasive procedure that will not cause your pet any discomfort. Typically, several electrodes from the EKG machine are placed on the dog’s body and the EKG machine is able to analyze the electrical impulses from your pet’s heart and produce a graph-like result.

Many veterinarians can do EKG testing in their offices and transmit the images of the x-rays and ECG results via computer to a cardiologist service to have the results evaluated. The cost is around $300.00. The test provides doctors with valuable diagnostic data and a baseline that they are able to use to compare over time. If there is any type of abnormality detected, your veterinarian will suggest a treatment plan. It is typically recommended that regular monitoring is done every six months for early detection of problems; treatment is more successful with early detection. A cardiac arrhythmia prognosis does not necessarily indicate heart disease. Certain arrhythmias may be controlled by medication. However, medication is not capable of curing the condition therefore it is typically recommended that regular examinations and monitoring be done every six months for early detection of problems since treatment is more successful with early detection.

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Strokes and heart disease are responsible for approximately 17 million deaths a year. In the next ten years, The American Heart Association (AMA) estimates that heart disease and stokes will be the leading cause of deaths and disabilities globally. Elderly patients who have been diagnosed with heart disease and individuals over 40 years of age that have a strong family background of heart disease should be monitored on a regular basis. Health professionals worldwide are using EKG machines as an effective stroke prevention tool for their older patients who are more susceptible to strokes and also for younger, high-risk individuals to detect heart disease and heart abnormalities at an earlier stage.

The convenience and portability of today’s hand-held EKG machines allows patients that have been diagnosed with abnormal heart rhythms to be monitored by themselves and their physicians more easily and effectively than in the past. Frequently, electrocardiograms are used for elderly patients that are experiencing a sudden onset of chest pain, rapid heartbeat, weakness, or fatigue. It is essential that older patients who have been diagnosed with abnormal heart rhythms be checked and monitored periodically to prevent strokes. Approximately, two million Americans suffer from a disorder known as Atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes the small two upper chambers of the heart to quiver rather than beat normally. If the blood is not able to pump out completely, it forms a clot, and a stroke can result if the clot located in the atria travels to an artery in the brain.

Unlike the conventional larger EKG machines that are routinely used in hospitals, a portable EKG machine can be used by the patient in their own home to effectively measure the heart’s electrical activity. The machine is equipped with a small LCD screen and only the person using the device is needed to connect. Measurements are then taken to a health care provider for evaluation. Portable EKG machines offer convenience, however they are mainly a screening tool when used by individual patients. They are not recommended for usage as a replacement tool for the conventional full-sized EKG devices in hospitals. Results must be read and monitored by a trained and qualified medical professional.

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