As a medical professional with expertise in cardiology, I can explain what an ECG (Electrocardiogram) shows. An ECG is a non-invasive test that records the electrical activity of the heart. It is used to diagnose various heart conditions, including:


1. Heart attack: An ECG can detect changes in the heart's electrical activity that may indicate a heart attack.

2. Arrhythmias: These are irregular heartbeats, and an ECG can identify the type and severity of the arrhythmia.

3. Heart block: This is a condition where the electrical signals that coordinate heartbeats are disrupted.

4. Hypertrophy: The ECG can show signs of an enlarged heart muscle (left ventricular hypertrophy), which can be a result of high blood pressure or other conditions.

5. Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle can be indicated by changes in the ECG.

6. Long QT Syndrome: A potentially life-threatening heart rhythm condition that can be identified by an ECG.
7.
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome: A pre-excitation condition that can be detected by an ECG.
8.
Ischemia: Reduced blood flow to the heart, which can be a precursor to a heart attack.

The ECG produces a graph with waves and intervals that represent different parts of the heart's electrical cycle. The P wave indicates the beginning of a heartbeat and atrial contraction, the QRS complex represents the ventricular depolarization and the contraction of the ventricles, and the T wave reflects the repolarization of the ventricles.

An ECG is a critical tool in cardiology because it provides a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity at a given moment, which can be invaluable for diagnosing and treating heart conditions.

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Electrocardiogram (ECG) and high blood pressure. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test which measures the electrical activity of your heart to show whether or not it is working normally. An ECG records the heart's rhythm and activity on a moving strip of paper or a line on a screen.read more >>