An electrocardiogram may be referred to as an "ECG" or an "EKG" by a clinician. It monitors your heart's electrical activity by the use of electrodes. Heart problems, such as damage or irregular beats, can be spotted with this method.
While it can be used to confirm a diagnosis of many heart-related conditions, an electrocardiogram can assist in diagnosing coronary artery disease, a prevalent kind of heart disease (CAD). Chest discomfort or even a heart attack might be the result of coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when the blood arteries that supply the heart become clogged or restricted.
How Can EKG Help Make a Diagnosis?
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor would decide if you should go for an EKG or not. A heart attack is often the first sign that a person has coronary artery disease (CAD). Common symptoms include chest tightness, pain, or discomfort. You may also experience lightheadedness, nausea, pain in the arms, and shortness of breath.
The problem is that CAD weakens the cardiac muscle over time. Heart failure, a life-threatening disease in which the heart cannot adequately pump blood, may also stem from coronary artery disease. When your doctor suspect CAD, they refer you to a leading echocardiology center for further investigation, and an EKG scan is usually one of the first tests they use.
The Role of EKG in CAD
An electrocardiogram (ECG) analyzes and records electrical impulses produced by the heart. This test can indicate the intensity of these impulses as they move through the heart and the rhythm and speed of your heartbeat.
With an ECG, your doctor can identify CAD and investigate signs of any heart damage and arrhythmias. A graph of spikes and troughs, representing waves of the heart's electrical activity, is produced by an electrocardiogram (ECG). This electrical activity may be broken down into three waves, which are denoted by the letters P, QRS, and T. One of the characteristics of the T wave is referred to as the ST segment.
It is quite tricky to read the results of ECG and diagnose CAD, which is why you need to work closely with your healthcare provider. A doctor will watch for any shifts in the waves that can point to an issue with the heart, such as coronary artery disease (CAD). The alterations could point to various problems, which is why your doctor may recommend further testing if they notice anything serious.
Conclusion
The fact of the matter is that while ECG may not be the most accurate way to diagnose CAD, it can still give subtle hints about a person's cardiovascular health, which may encourage a healthcare provider to order further testing to confirm a diagnosis.
