Signs and Symptoms That You May Need an EKG Test

An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a quick and painless medical test that is performed to help diagnose a multitude of common heart problems. You may be asked by your physician to go in for an EKG if you’re experiencing certain symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, confusion, heart palpitations, rapid pulse, shortness of breath, weakness, and/or fatigue.
 
Most commonly, an EKG is used to detect or diagnose chest pain, irregular heartbeat patterns (also known as arrhythmias), blocked or constricted arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease), and to see if certain cardiac equipment (such as a pacemaker) is working properly. An EKG can also be used to determine if you’ve had a previous heart attack.
 
In addition to screening for previous or current health anomalies, EKGs can also be used as a form of preventative healthcare – helping your physician to screen for potential problems or to ensure that your cardiovascular health hasn’t changed since your last visit.

There are no special criteria for what you can and cannot do before an EKG.
 
However, it’s recommended that you don’t smoke before your test and that you refrain from wearing any creams or lotions as this may affect how the electrodes stick to your skin. It’s also recommended that you wear loose clothing that is easy to remove or pull aside so that the electrodes can easily be placed where they need to go.

An EKG is a quick and painless procedure, with the initial setup typically taking about 10 minutes. The actual process of getting and recording the readings only takes seconds so, overall, you can expect the total process to take between 10-15 minutes.
 
While this test can be completed very quickly, it’s important to note that it may take between 1-2 days to receive your results. This is because your readings will typically be sent to a heart specialist for interpretation before they get returned to your primary physician. Once received, your doctor will either call you or schedule you for a follow-up appointment to discuss your results.

The 3 primary heart problems that can be determined via an EKG are:
 
● Arrhythmia. This is a problem with the rhythm of the heartbeat, typically characterized by the heart may beat too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly. While not all arrhythmias are life-threatening, an EKG can detect if there is an anomaly and how dangerous the issue is.
● Heart Attack. This condition occurs when blood flow to the heart is impeded by a blockage. An EKG can detect whether a person is currently having a heart attack or if they’ve had one in the past.
● Coronary Artery Disease. Also known as atherosclerotic heart disease, this condition interferes with how the blood flows within the body. An EKG can detect this issue and any coinciding narrowing of the arteries.

An electrocardiogram (EKG) provides your physician with more detailed information about the health and function of your heart, allowing for a more comprehensive diagnosis. An EKG is beneficial when it comes to diagnosing and monitoring the following problems:  
 
● An abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia)
● An enlarged heart
● Anomalous blood and oxygen levels
● Coronary artery disease
● Heart aneurysms
● Issues with cardiac equipment, such as a pacemaker
● Narrow arteries
● Past heart attacks
 
The primary purpose of the EKG is to measure the electrical activity of your heart and to determine if the heart muscle is performing as it should be. The readings provided by an EKG allow your healthcare provider to make an accurate diagnosis or to make changes to a pre-existing one.
 
At Express Health Urgent Care, we offer professional, efficient, and affordable EKGs to get you back on the road to health. For more information about our EKG services, or to ask any questions you may have, contact us today, book an appointment, or walk-in at your earliest convenience. We serve patients from Brooklyn NYC, Queens NY, East Harlem NYC, Manhattan NY, Coney Island NYC, Midwood NY, Nostrand NYC, Ridgewood NY, Metropolitan NYC, Staten Island, Greenwich Village NY, and surrounding areas.