An electrocardiogram (EKG) testing is a painless and noninvasive procedure that uses electrodes placed on the chest to record the heart’s electrical activity. A standard EKG shows consistent, unbroken waves with no spikes or dips in rhythm. An EKG at urgent care measures these patterns and if there is any irregularity in the heart. A person’s heart rate at rest can vary from 60 to 100 beats per minute (or BPM). An abnormally fast or slow resting heart rate can signal underlying cardiac problems and should be evaluated by your doctor as soon as possible.
Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is a sign of many conditions. It is essential to distinguish between shortness of breath caused by heart disease and shortness of breath caused by breathing problems. Heart disease can cause shortness of breath in several ways, including:
- Stoppage in the routes that supply blood to your heart muscle (coronary artery disease)
- Sudden closure or obstruction of one or more heart valves (valvular heart disease)
- A tear in the wall of your heart from a previous injury or infection (myocardial rupture)
Chest pain
Chest pain is a common symptom that many different things can cause. Chest pain may be caused by heart disease, heart attack, or angina (chest pain related to coronary artery disease). Chest pain may also be caused by other conditions such as acid reflux, lung disease, and stress. If you encounter any of these symptoms, you must see your doctor immediately so they can assess the cause of your chest pain and treat it appropriately.
Palpitations
Palpitations are a sensation of the heart beating faster than usual. They may occur when you are resting or exercising and can be accompanied by dizziness, fatigue, and fainting spells. Palpitations may be caused by several conditions, including:
- Heart disease (arrhythmias)
- Medications like beta blockers
- Stress or anxiety disorders
- Thyroid disease
Unexplained dizziness or fainting
An EKG test is a noninvasive way to test the electrical activity of your heart. It’s done by attaching electrodes to your chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes send electrical signals from your heart through wires to an electrocardiograph (ECG) machine. The ECG machine analyzes these signals and makes them visible on a monitor.
A standard EKG looks like this
The top panel shows how fast it takes for each electrical impulse in the heart to cause contraction (this is called “heart rate”). The bottom panel shows how much force it takes for each contraction (called “systolic blood pressure”).If there are any problems with either of these measurements, you may need further testing with other medical equipment, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Dysrhythmias
Dysrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms. They can be life-threatening and may cause sudden death if not diagnosed and treated in time. Most types of dysrhythmias are caused by an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Some people have an average resting heart rate, but they may still have a kind of dysrhythmia called sinus node dysfunction that causes their heart to beat too slowly or quickly.There are many different types of dysrhythmias, including:
- Atrial fibrillation: An irregularly fast heartbeat originating from the upper chambers of your heart (atria) and causing your blood pressure to fall dangerously low when it beats rapidly
- Atrial flutter: A fast-paced rhythm originating from your upper chambers that causes blood pressure to drop when it hits rapidly
- Ventricular tachycardia: A rapid heartbeat originating in one of your lower chambers (ventricles), which will cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded because these chambers are responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout the body
If you have any of these issues, an EKG test can diagnose the root cause.
- Heart problems. An EKG at urgent care can help determine if you have a heart problem.
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib). This irregular heartbeat can raise your risk of stroke and other life-threatening complications.
- Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid gland that causes your body to create too much thyroid hormone, affecting your heart rate and rhythm.
- Subclinical hypothyroidism, where there are no symptoms, but blood tests show low average levels of thyroid hormone in the body.
Conclusion
If you have any of these issues, an EKG test can diagnose the root cause. You don’t have to be concerned about this test’s pain or discomfort because it’s straightforward and quick!
