For those who work in cardiology, EKG machines are life saving pieces of equipment, helping to diagnose and treat countless heart conditions every year.
But what exactly are they? One of the fundamental parts of solving patient’s heart problems, EKGs are invaluable to hospitals and patients alike. Despite this, there are still plenty of people asking themselves the all-important question: how does an EKG machine work?
The science behind the machine might seem too complex to understand. In reality, it’s straightforward as can be.
If you want a guide to EKG machines, look no further. This article will tell you everything you need to know.
What Are EKG Machines?
An EKG machine is a device used to track heart activity based on electrical activity. Results are shown either on a screen or as a developing line on a piece of paper.
Short for electrocardiograms, EKG scans are used to measure the rhythm of a patient’s heartbeat.
This enables doctors and healthcare professionals to look for irregularities and detect things that might be unusual about a patient’s heart health. This means more serious issues, such as heart attacks or strokes, can be pre-empted by interpreting the results of a quality EKG machine scan. They can then be prevented.
How Does an EKG Machine Work?
EKG machines measure heart activity by tracking electrical pulses. The best EKG machines have incredibly sensitive monitors so that they can pick up hard-to-find traces.
As those electrical signals move through the heart, an EKG monitor senses them through intelligent electrodes attached to the patient’s body.
The monitor tracks the strength of these signals, alongside their timing. This results in a graph known as a P-wave.
It is common for EKG machines to use patches and wires to get a reading. The patches are stuck onto the body and the wires connect them to the monitor. Ten electrodes are used, which provide 12 different electrical views of the heart.
Depending upon the type of test being undertaken, EKG scans can last different amounts of time.
Some scans take mere moments: a few minutes or seconds. Those that require more continuous monitoring require special devices and can last over a week.
An EKG heart monitor measures both rate and rhythm of the heart’s beating, combining the two to create a useful reading.
This provides key data that can allow for the ruling out of certain conditions, or the pursuit of a certain diagnosis. It offers a key insight into a vital organ without the need for intrusive surgery.
EKG Machines Are Intelligent and Important
Now that you understand the workings of EKG machines, you’ll be better equipped to use them safely and appropriately. If you’re looking to buy an EKG machine for your department, be sure to seek one with strong sensors that can provide reliable results. If you’re interested in more in-depth features and advantages our equipment experts are here to talk and answer your questions.
