The Importance Of ECG And Echocardiogram Tests For Cardiac Diagnosis

Posted by williamjack on March 11th, 2019

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),a leading public health institute of the United States, around 610,000 people die every year, in the country, because of heart diseases. The cause of 1 in every 4 deaths is a heart disease. The situation is indeed critical and worrisome, which is why early action for heart problems is extremely important. The chances of survival increase when the condition is diagnosed without any delay and the treatment begins quickly.  

Technology has had a significant impact on almost every sector and healthcare is no exception. Today, we have more advanced machines and devices, which make it super easy for medical practitioners to diagnose and later treat a heart-related problem. Doctors use these smart machines to perform a number of tests to determine cardiac health and detect potentially serious heart conditions. The two most common cardiac tests include electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram(or cardiac echo). Depending on the condition, a patient may be required to take one or both of these tests, so their heart abnormalities can be identified and treated.

ECG/EKG Vs Echocardiogram

ECG

Electrocardiograph is the most common test for heart conditions. A portable ECG monitor works as an effective diagnostic tool to measure the electrical efficiency of a patient’s heart. It displays and records the patterns of the heart and its rhythm, as it beats. This helps doctors determine if the heart is performing as it is supposed to. If the pattern is too slow, too fast, or erratic, it indicates abnormal electrical activity. Moreover, EKG detects issues such as changes in the thickness of heart walls, irregular heartbeats, and potential damage to the heart muscle or tissue.

Echocardiogram

Echocardiogram is a relatively more advanced testing procedure as compared to ECG, typically used to diagnose issues such as blood clots and infection. It makes use of ultrasound or echoing high-frequency sound waves to create a visual image of a patient’s heart. It helps doctors study the structure of the heart and check how well blood is able to flow through it. It gives an accurate reading on the size and shape of the heart, as well as the level of heart valve function.

When used together, a portable EKG machine and Echocardiogram ultrasound machine can significantly increase the accuracy of the diagnosis of many common heart conditions.

Author's Bio - Author is an online blogger. This article is about the portable EKG machine.