Electrocardiogram (ECG)

"An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a tracing or drawing produced by an electrocardiograph, a device which records electrical activity in the heart.

An ECG can be used for:

a) deciding if the heart is performing normally or suffering from abnormalities (e.g. cardiac arrhythmia: extra or skipped heartbeats)

b) indicating damage to heart muscle (e.g. heart attacks or ischaemia of heart muscle)

c) detecting conduction abnormalities: heart blocks and bundle branch blocks

d) screening for ischaemic heart disease during an exercise tolerance test often carried out on an exercise bike or treadmill

e) providing information on the physical condition of the heart, for example in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)

f) detecting electrolyte disturbances (e.g. low plasma potassium levels)

AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG) - a tracing or drawing

AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAPH (ECG) - a machine which records the electrical activity in the heart

A DEVICE - a machine

CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA - a condition in which the heart does not beat with a regular rhythm

A SKIPPED HEARTBEAT – a missed heartbeat

ISCHAEMIA /ɪˈskiː.mi.ə/ – there is not enough blood flowing to the heart usually because the arteries have become too narrow

INSCHAEMIC (adj)

CONDUCTION – the process by which heat or electricity goes through a substance.

A BUNDLE BRANCH BLOCK - a condition in which there's a delay or obstruction along the pathway that electrical impulses travel to make your heart beat

TO SCREEN sb FOR sth – to test or examine someone

AN EXERCISE TOLERANCE TEST

AN EXERCISE BIKE

A TREADMILL – an exercise machine that consists of a moving strip on which you walk without moving forward

A VENTRICLE - either of the two lower chambers on each side of the heart that receive blood from the atria and in turn force it into the arteries

VENTRICULAR (adj)

HYPERTROPHY – an increase in size, structure or function

AN ELECTROLYTE - a substance, usually a liquid, that electricity can go through

PLASMA – the pale yellow liquid that forms 55% of human blood and contains the blood cells

ECG procedure:

1. The patient should lie down and relax.

2. Attach the limb leads: left arm (LA), right arm (RA), left leg (LL) and right leg (RL).

4. Record the six standard leads: I, II, III, augmented voltage right arm (AVR), augmented voltage left arm (AVL) and augmented voltage foot (AVF).

5. Apply the electrode to the six chest positions in turn."

TO LIE DOWN

A LIMB - an arm or leg of a person or animal

A LEAD = A WIRE = A FLEX

AUGMENTED - increased in value

VOLTAGE - the force of an electric current, measured in volts (HIGH/LOW VOLTAGE)

Reference:

Glendinning Eric H.,Howard Ron “Professional English in Use, Medicine” (2015).