4 Lifestyle Habits to Improve Your Cardiovascular Health
Your daily habits influence many aspects of your heart health. Learn four quick tips you can use starting today to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Do I Need an EKG Test?
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a noninvasive test that helps identify the cause of unusual symptoms possibly related to a heart condition. An EKG is often the first diagnostic step to learn more about how your heart is working and determine if you need additional testing.
Chinatown Cardiology, with four New York City locations, offers EKG testing in-office for diagnosis and prevention. Our expert cardiologists use advanced EKG technology to check for heart-related conditions, including arrhythmia, heart failure, and coronary heart disease.
How an EKG works
An EKG measures the electrical signals your heart produces with each heartbeat. These pulses of electricity start at the top of the heart and travel to the bottom, causing the muscle contractions needed to pump blood out to the body.
Testing is noninvasive. Our providers attach sticky electrodes to the surface of your skin, usually the arms, chest, and legs.
The electrodes record the electrical activity of the heart with each beat and send the information to a computer. The computer translates the details into a graph your provider uses to interpret your EKG results.
The test is fast; once complete, we remove the sensors. Your cardiologist discusses the findings of your EKG and may recommend additional testing. You can go back to your routine right away unless you have a heart issue requiring lifestyle modifications or medical care.
Reasons you might need an EKG
An EKG can provide valuable information about how your heart is working. Our cardiovascular specialists may recommend an EKG if you have unusual symptoms like an irregular heart rhythm, such as a heartbeat that’s too fast or too slow.
Shortness of breath, persistent fatigue, dizziness, and chest pain can indicate heart-related complications such as:
- Heart failure
- Heart valve disease
- Coronary heart disease
- Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
- Pericarditis (heart inflammation)
- Congenital heart defects
- Cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscles)
Our providers may recommend an EKG to diagnose a heart attack or identify electrical problems that relate to a previous heart attack.
Preventive benefits of an EKG
In addition to diagnosing heart issues, an EKG can be part of your preventive health care plan.
People with a family history of heart disease may need routine EKGs even if they don’t have unusual symptoms. Preventive screenings help identify heart issues early, before complications develop.
If you’re having a heart catheterization or surgery, you might need an EKG as part of a pre-surgery health evaluation. Our providers use your test results to ensure your heart and cardiovascular system are healthy enough to tolerate the procedure and general anesthesia.
People who take medications for heart conditions and other health problems may need routine EKGs to check for potential side effects. Our providers can also evaluate EKG results to ensure medications managing arrhythmia and other heart conditions are working well.
Call the Chinatown Cardiology office near you today to learn more about the benefits of an EKG, or request a consultation online.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Living with a Pacemaker: 4 Tips to Know
If you’re scheduled for pacemaker surgery, it helps to know what to expect from this life-saving device. Learn more about living with a pacemaker.
What Can Venous Mapping Reveal About My Health?
Venous mapping is a noninvasive test that can reveal underlying problems with your vein health. Learn how venous mapping works and which conditions the procedure can diagnose without incisions or downtime.
Why Might I Need a Renal Artery Doppler?
A renal artery Doppler is a diagnostic tool to identify kidney abnormalities and narrowed renal arteries. Learn why you might need this noninvasive test and what to expect during your screening.
What Happens After a Cardiac Stress Test?
An exercise stress test is designed to get your heart pumping so a cardiologist can identify blockages and other cardiac problems. Learn more about the types of stress tests and what to expect after you have one.
Everything You Should Know About Arrhythmias
An irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, can alter how much blood your heart pumps out and put you at risk of health complications. Learn more about arrhythmias and what treatments you might need to regulate your heart’s rhythm.