About the ECG or EKG

ECG or EKG

What is an electrocardiogram?

An electrocardiogram, abbreviated EKG or ECG, measures the small changes in electricity that occur on a person's skin as the electrical state of the heart changes during the heartbeat. This extremely valuable and very basic test is given to assess the condition of the heart, functioning of implanted devices such as pacemakers, and presence of diseases which may affect the heart. The ECG/EKG machine, or electrocardiograph, has 3-12 leads which are attached to the skin of a patient's chest, arms and legs to detect signals from different areas of the heart. Most machines also have a print-out capability to document the readings. This is a non-invasive, non-painful procedure.

An ECG technician is trained to operate the various kinds of electrocardiographs used in taking electrocardiograms. ECG/EKG training usually involves taking ECG/EKG classes, which take from two months to a year or more to complete. Students learn about the heart and how it functions as well as necessary medical terminology and medical ethics.

There are different kinds of machines for taking ECG/EKG. Using these involves undergoing ECG/EKG training and receiving ECG/EKG certification. Machines vary from 3 to 4-lead ones which monitor but do not record the heartbeat to 6 to 12-lead machines which give more detailed information and also document the findings. There is also the Holter monitor which is used to record heart activity on an ambulatory patient over a 24 to 48 hour period. A 12-lead electrocardiograph is also used to administer a stress test, where a patient's heart activity is measured while undergoing increased levels of treadmill work.

ECG/EKG training also involves learning how to prepare and treat patients, how to adjust the ECG/EKG machine to obtain good readings, and how to maintain the electrocardiograph. Although the readings are given to clinicians such as cardiologists to interpret, ECG/EKG classes also teach basic interpretations of readings so ECG technicians can recognize primary abnormalities in the readings.

There is a read-out for every lead attached to the patient. Each line of the reading gives information about a different area of the heart. Overall the readings tell about the position of the heart in the chest, the thickness of the heart walls, possible muscle damage from heart attacks, blockages, rhythm and rate irregularities, the possibility of other diseases which produce diagnostic signals in the ECG, and other things as well.

ECG/EKG certification is on different levels. The educational institute usually issues a certificate upon successful completion of ECG/EKG training. Some states also require an additional state-level ECG/EKG certificate or license. Certification is further available from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) or the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). These may require additional education and testing.

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