What Happens during the Test?
After you have removed your garments, a nurse or technician will clean areas of your chest, back and limbs where the electrodes will be placed. Then the nurse or technician will place the electrodes on your body and attach the leads to the ECG machine. The electrodes are usually thin, gel-backed, self-sticking rectangles, about an inch long. The gel may feel a little cool at first. Then you will lie down while the technician enters information into the ECG computer. Next the technician will 'run' the ECG scan. You will be asked to lie still for less than a minute while your heart's electrical activity is recorded. You will not feel anything.
A typical ECG monitor will have 10 leads which are connected to the body using sticky tabs or suction cup looking pads. 6 leads go on your chest and are known as V1 through V6. RA goes on your right arm and LA goes on your left arm. For RL and LL, some clinics will place them on the lower legs while others will place them on the lower stomach area. They both seem to work the same, so it is the preference of the clinic.
What Happens after the Test?
The results of your easy ECG are immediately available. The physician may discuss them with you at that time or may wait for laboratory or other tests to return first. The ECG reading which has been taken will provide useful information for the doctor to assess the problem and to advise the next course of action to be taken.
When it's finished, the ECG reading looks like a bunch of squiggles, but there is a tremendous amount of information on that paper. The ECG machine automatically records the signals from a number of different combinations of the electrodes. Each of these combinations is called a "lead", and you may hear physicians referring to a "12-lead," which is a standard ECG containing recordings from 12 different combinations of electrodes.
There are also the portable ECG machines which are available for home use and these have the advantage of being able to give a reading at the time the pain is happening. Among the top names in this field is the Omron ECG monitor which is the following features:
- Portable and compact
- The ECG analysis provides information on heart rate, rhythm and the ECG waveform
- 30 seconds measurement
- Direct review of results on clearly readable, high resolution screen with backlight
- Cordless
The portable ECG monitor is a very useful piece of equipment to have in the home for anyone with heart problems.