When you feel chest tightness, palpitations, shortness of breath or chest pain, doctors will generally recommend that you do an electrocardiogram. What can an electrocardiogram check? What is its significance? Who needs an electrocardiogram? Today, Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine will take you to learn more about it!

1. The significance of 12-lead electrocardiogram examination

It is the simplest and most sensitive way to check the patient's myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, etc. It can see whether the patient's heart rhythm is regular, how many heartbeats there are, whether there is tachycardia, and supraventricular or ventricular premature beats.

In addition, if the patient has coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction, the location and severity of the myocardial infarction can be observed through the electrocardiogram, laying a good foundation for the patient's next step of diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, the electrocardiogram has been widely used in clinical and routine physical examinations.

2. The main uses of electrocardiogram include

1. Check whether there are abnormalities in cardiac electrical activity and help diagnose various arrhythmias.

2. Help diagnose asymptomatic myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, angina pectoris and chronic coronary artery insufficiency, etc.

3. Help diagnose atrial and ventricular hypertrophy and enlargement.

4. Evaluate the adverse effects of drugs on the heart. For example, if digitalis, quinidine, etc. affect the heart during medication, the electrocardiogram can reflect it in time.

5. Indicates electrolyte imbalance, such as high or low blood potassium.

6. Check whether pacemakers and other cardiac implantable mechanical devices are working properly.

7. Monitor the heart health of high-risk patients. High-risk patients include those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and a family history of early heart disease. These people have a higher risk of heart disease and therefore need regular monitoring.

3. Applicable population for electrocardiogram examination

1. People who have discomfort in the precordial area, such as chest tightness, palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, blurry vision and other symptoms, should have an electrocardiogram in time to rule out heart diseases such as myocardial ischemia, premature beats, tachycardia, conduction block, etc.

2. For patients with common cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, essential hypertension, myocardial infarction, and stroke, we should seek early preventive measures and objectively and impartially evaluate the effects of certain cardiovascular drugs and treatments. Such people should undergo regular electrocardiograms to serve as auxiliary references for clinical medication.

3. Patients with fever, infection, etc., regardless of age, especially those with abnormally elevated myocardial enzyme tests, should undergo an electrocardiogram in a timely manner to rule out myocarditis.

4. Patients with diarrhea, regardless of age, should also undergo an electrocardiogram in a timely manner. Because severe diarrhea can lead to electrolyte imbalance, an electrocardiogram can provide auxiliary examination of the patient's blood potassium status and provide certain help for clinical treatment.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Hu Juan, Ultrasound Medicine Department, Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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(Edited by YT)