An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a test that measures the electrical activity of your heartbeat. Each time your heart beats, it emits an electrical impulse which travels to your heart, causing the muscle to squeeze and pump blood. EKG tests help physicians diagnose real-time emergencies (such as heart attacks) as well as detecting patterns that emerge over time (such as the effects of high blood pressure) by monitoring and measuring the electrical activity of your heart.
Our office has an EKG lab which makes it easy for our doctor to check for signs of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. This simply test is administered through small electrode patches attached to the skin of your chest, arms and legs, and is both quick and painless.
An EKG test will:
- Check your heart rhythm
- Help determine if you have poor or impaired blood flow to your heart muscle
- Check any abnormalities, such as thickened heart muscle
- Diagnose the orientation (physical placement) of your heart in your chest cavity
- Check for evidence of damage to your heart muscle
- Diagnose a heart attack or other cardiac irregularity (prior, evolving or presently occurring)
- Check for adverse effects for various heart, lung or systemic diseases
Our physicians may recommend an EKG test:
- As part of a routine physical examination
- As part of a cardiac exercise stress test
- As part of an evaluation for chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, fainting, palpitations or other symptoms
- As part of a pre-op workup for a surgery with patients who are at risk of heart disease
EKG tests are safe and comfortable, though you may experience some brief discomfort when the EKG patches used in the test are removed.
If you have any questions about EKG test or our EKG lab in Opa Locka, Miami, Miami Gardens and Coconut Grove, Florida, please feel free to contact our office. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you schedule an appointment with Dr. Pierre Blemur, Dr. Lila Chagani or Dr. Thomas Whaiton.
