What is an abnormal EKG?

Anelectrocardiogram (EKG)测量您的心脏的电活动。这种无创测验可以测量许多方面，从心脏跳动的速度到其传导电能的速度。

异常心电图可能意味着很多事情。有时，心电图异常是心脏节奏的正常变化，不会影响您的健康。其他时候，异常的心电图可能会发出医疗紧急情况，例如myocardial infarction（心脏病发作）或危险arrhythmia。

受过阅读心电图的医生或医学专家可以解释阅读，以确定您是否需要进一步的治疗。Discover all the causes of an irregular heartbeat。

An EKG machine is typically a portable machine that has 12 leads, or long, flexible, wire-like tubes attached to sticky electrodes. These are placed on designated areas around the heart and on the arms and legs. The electrodes sense the electrical impulses coming from multiple directions. Undergoing an EKG procedure isn’t painful. You don’t have to do anything special to prepare for the test. The test itself typically takes five minutes or less.

The EKG machine doesn’t generate electricity. Instead, it conducts and measures electrical activity.

Typically, the heart conducts electricity in a standard pathway from the right atrium to the left atrium. The electrical current then goes to theatrioventricular (AV) node, which signals the ventricles to contract. The current then flows to an area known as the bundle of His. This area divides into fibers that provide current to the left and right ventricles.

此电流中的任何干扰都会影响心脏良好工作的能力。理想情况下，心电图可以衡量任何潜在的破坏。

因为心电图衡量心脏的许多不同方面function，异常结果可能意味着几个问题。这些包括：

心脏形状和大小的缺陷或异常：异常的心电图表明心脏壁的一个或多个方面比另一个方面大。这可能表明心脏比平常更努力地抽血。

Electrolyte imbalances:电解质是体内的电导导颗粒，有助于保持心肌跳动以节奏。Potassium,钙， 和magnesiumare electrolytes. If your electrolytes are imbalanced, you may have an abnormal EKG reading.

心脏病发作或缺血：During a heart attack, blood flow in the heart is affected and heart tissue can begin to lose oxygen and die. This tissue will not conduct electricity as well, which can cause an abnormal EKG. Ischemia, or lack of blood flow, may also cause an abnormal EKG.

Heart rate abnormalities:A typical human心率is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). An EKG can determine if the heart is beating too fast or too slow.

Heart rhythmabnormalities:心脏通常以稳定的节奏跳动。心电图可以揭示心脏是否从节奏或序列中跳出来。

Medication side effects:Taking certain medications can impact a heart’s rate and rhythm. Sometimes, medications given to improve the heart’s rhythm can have the reverse effect and cause心律不齐。影响心律的药物的例子包括β受体阻滞剂, sodium channel blockers, and钙channel blockers。了解有关心律不齐药物的更多信息。

Several symptoms can indicate that you may need an EKG to determine if your heart is functioning normally. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience:

Treatment response to an abnormal EKG typically depends on the underlying cause. For example, some people have a very slow heartbeat where the heart doesn’t conduct electrical signals in the correct order. This person may require a起搏器，这有助于将心脏恢复到更正常的节奏。

Other people may require medications taken regularly to maintain a more normal heart rhythm.

有人心脏病发作可能需要cardiac catheterizationor surgery to allow blood flow to return to the heart.

People with electrolyte imbalances may require correction with medications or fluids. For example, a person withdehydrationmay have imbalanced electrolytes that are causing an abnormal EKG. This person may require fluids, electrolyte-containing beverages, or medications to restore electrolytes.

有时，医生可能不建议使用异常心电图的任何治疗方法。如果一个人没有麻烦的症状或不引起人们的关注，可能就是这种情况。