(LifeWire) - EKG is the common abbreviation used for electrocardiography, which is a test designed to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a heartbeat. You may also see the test referred to as an ECG, which is another acronym used for the examination. The test measures the electrical impulses used to contract the heart. These impulses are recorded on paper and show the timing of the muscle contraction.
There are three parts to the EKG results:
- The P wave shows the timing in the the upper chambers of the heart, the atria.
- The next wave follows a short flat line and shows the timing in the lower heart chambers, or the ventricles. This wave is called the QRS complex.
- The final wave, called the T wave, shows the ventricles returning to a resting state.
When evaluating your EKG, your doctor can tell if your heart is contracting too slowly or too quickly. The test may also reveals clues to the following:
- An irregular heartbeat or irregular rhythm in just one of the heart's chambers
- Constricted arteries, causing reduced blood flow to the heart muscle
- A weakened heart or heart failure
- A defect in the heart, which was actually present at birth or was caused by an injury.
- Swelling in the thin membrane that encloses the heart
EKGs can also be used to diagnose cardiac arrest or heart attack.
Ask your doctor to share the results of your test immediately, because the results are usually available as soon as they're performed. If you have any questions about your results, be sure to speak up. If your test leads to a diagnosis, talk to your doctor about the steps you should take to treat your condition.
Sources:
"Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)." americanheart.org. 7 Mar. 2008. American Heart Association. 17 Nov. 2008. <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3005172>.
"What Does an Electrocardiogram Show." nhlbi.nih.gov. Nov. 2008. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. 17 Nov. 2008. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ekg/ekg_show.html>.
