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The first EKG machine was developed by Augustus Waller in 1877. The machine’s primary purpose was to measure and interpret both the rhythm and heart-rate of the heart muscle and to graph the heart’s electrical activity.

Today, EKG machines are a valuable diagnostic tool that enables doctors to diagnose the factors that cause heart palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath. EKG machines allow doctors to detect a variety of abnormalities before a treatment plan is provided for a patient. When the heart is healthy, the electrical current that pumps through the heart contracts and pushers blood through the body. When these electric signals are abnormal, a patient’s heart is not able to function properly.

An EKG test is painless and typically free of any complications. However, it is extremely important that physicians are informed about any medications a patient is taking. Depending on the individual circumstances of the patient, some physicians may order an EKG stress test. An EKG stress test differs from a typical EKG test due to the fact that it requires the patient to exercise either on a treadmill or on a stationary bicycle while they are hooked up to the EKG machine. A stress test can be a valuable diagnostic tool for physicians since it can evaluate the heart when at times when it requires more oxygen.

Today, most EKG machines incorporate 12-15 electrodes that are strategically placed on areas of the legs, arms, and chest. The electrodes transmit the heart signals directly to the EKG machine and the heart activity is graphically recorded in a sequence of waveforms. The three waveforms are referred to as; P, QRS, and T. Each waveform provides specific diagnostic information:

· P Waves – Calculate the activity in the heart’s atria

· QRS Waves – Measure the ventricular activity of the heart

· T Waves – Represent ventricles that are renewed

Doctors typically scan for any abnormalities in the direction, duration, and amplitude of the waveforms that are recorded during the test before diagnosing a patient.

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EKG Tests cannot always detect artery problems while a patient is in a restful state. AN EKG test that is not combined with the element of exercise can often be inconclusive by showing minimal symptoms or normal results. Therefore, a stress test is that implements a treadmill is usually required to determine efficient medical testing results. Heart disease symptoms are more evident when the heart is exposed to stress through exercise.

Stress tests are commonly ordered for patients that show symptoms, or have a family history of coronary artery disease (CAD). They are also used to determine blood pressure rates in patients with borderline hypertension or to determine irregular heartbeats. Physicians also may also recommend a stress test if a patient complains of shortness of breath or unusual fatigue.

Unlike healthy arteries that dilate when exposed to exercise, an artery that is blocked or narrowed and does not dilate properly and can deliver too much or too little blood to the heart muscle. A reduced flow of blood can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest discomfort.

A treadmill stress test is normally conducted in an exercise laboratory that has an EKG machine and a treadmill. The physician or technician attaches the EKG machine electrodes to the patient’s shoulders, hips, and chest. Initially, the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate are recorded by the EKG machine while they are at rest. The treadmill is initially set at a slow speed and the slope and inclination on the machine are typically increased every few minutes. The EKG is displayed on the monitor during the duration of the stress test and results are graphed and recorded on paper every minute.

During an EKG machine stress test, a medical professional closely monitors the patient’s EKG pattern, blood pressure, heart rate, and any changes in the patient’s appearance or condition. They may choose to stop the test prematurely if any serious conditions arise, such as chest pain, a drop or rise in blood pressure, dizziness, or shortness of breath.

Preliminary results are usually given to the patient immediately. The full test results are usually available in a few days. Physicians may use the test results to diagnose heart disease or to monitor or regulate an existing condition.

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EKG machines are used to provide physicians with an Electrocardiogram which is a test that medical professionals use to detect and evaluate heart problems in a patient. By recording the heart’s electrical activity, EKG’s are able to identify the source of the problem within the heart. Doctors may require a patient to have an EKG for a variety of symptoms such as:

· Unusual heartbeat patterns or sounds during an exam
· Fatigue
· Chest pain
· Difficult breathing
· To evaluate the effect of medications or medical devices
· Screening for early heart disease

It can reveal problems such as birth defects of the heart, the presence of disease in between the chambers of the heart valves, irregular heartbeat, insufficient blood flow of the heart muscle, cardiac arrest, and an irregular heart pump. It can also diagnose thickness of the heart muscle and an abnormally sized heart.

Normally, electric heart signals begin at the top part of the right atrium of the heart and travel downward. As the electric signals travel, they make the muscle tissue of the heart contract, and the contractions pump blood through the body.

An EKG test determines heart rate (how fast or slow the heart is beating), and it will also indicate whether the rhythm of the heart is irregular or steady and the strength of the electrical signals while they are passing through the different areas of the heart.

An EKG test is usually performed by a physician or a trained medical technician and is harmless and painless for the patient. Twelve soft patches, the size of a quarter, known as electrodes are placed directly on the skin of the patient’s chest, legs, and arms. The patient is required to lie still for several minutes to allow the electrodes to detect the heart’s electric signals. An EKG machine may either display the results on a monitor or record them on graph paper. An EKG test lasts about ten minutes.

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