As a medical professional with expertise in cardiology, I can tell you that an
EKG is looking for several key aspects of the heart's electrical activity, which can indicate various heart conditions. Here's what an EKG typically looks for:
1.
Heart Rate: The number of times the heart beats per minute.
2.
Heart Rhythm: The regularity and pattern of the heartbeats.
3.
P Wave: Indicates the electrical activity associated with atrial contraction.
4.
PR Interval: Reflects the time from the start of atrial contraction to the start of ventricular contraction.
5.
QRS Complex: Represents the electrical activity of the ventricles as they contract.
6.
QT Interval: Shows the time between the start of the QRS complex and the end of the T wave, which is related to the time between the start of ventricular contraction and the end of ventricular repolarization.
7.
T Wave: Represents the electrical activity of the ventricles as they recover (repolarize) after contraction.
8.
ST Segment: Reflects the time when the ventricles are in depolarization, and any changes or elevations/depressions in this segment can indicate ischemia or other conditions.
An EKG can help diagnose conditions such as myocardial infarction (heart attack), arrhythmias, heart failure, hypertrophy, and more. It's a crucial tool in cardiology for assessing the heart's health.
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