Find out what this simple test could tell you about the health of your heart.
With heart disease being the number one killer of men and women in the US (and around the world), it is incredibly important that everyone is doing their part to stay healthy. For those who are at an increased risk for heart disease, our Tomball, TX, cardiologist, Dr. Daljit Muttiana, may recommend undergoing an echocardiogram (EKG), a heart test that may be administered as part of a stress test to measure the activity of your heart.
What is an EKG?
An EKG measures the electrical activity of the heart by attaching electrodes to the skin. These sensors then pick up electrical activity within the heart such as how quickly your heart is beating and the electrical energy that is being conducted within the chambers of the heart.
Why do I need an EKG?
An EKG can be helpful for determining many things, one of which is your risk for heart disease. This simple, noninvasive test can check for abnormalities in the heart’s electrical activity or the rhythm itself. It even has the ability to detect more serious problems such as a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or a heart attack. An EKG can also detect:
Even if you aren’t dealing with any risk factors for heart disease, a cardiologist may still recommend getting an EKG if you are dealing with any of these symptoms:
How often should I get an EKG?
This will depend on several factors. For example, if you have a congenital heart problem your heart doctor may recommend coming into his Tomball, TX, office every year for a routine checkup, which will include an EKG. After all, this is one of the best tools that our cardiology team has for checking the health of the heart and pinpointing any changes or problems.
Those patients at an increased risk for heart disease due to heredity or lifestyle factors may also need to come in once a year for an EKG. Our cardiologist can work with you to alter and improve certain risk factors such as your lifestyle that could greatly improve your health and reduce your risk of health disease.
Contact us
Noticing changes in your heart’s rhythm or pattern? Suddenly feeling winded more easily during physical activity? Don’t ignore these symptoms, even if you otherwise feel great. Our cardiologist and his caring team here at Cardiovascular Institute in Tomball, TX, can provide you with the answers you’re looking for. Call (281) 357-5700 today.
