NYC Doctors Use Electrocardiograms to Assess the Electrical Activity of the Heart
New York internists use electrocardiograms quite often as they are one of the best means of assessing the overall “health” of the heart. Electrocardiograms, otherwise known as “EKG”s and “ECG”s, are painless tests that measure the electrical activity of the heart. Small electrode patches are placed directly onto the skin of your chest, arms, and legs, as you lie on the table a machine takes readings of the electrical impulses that travel through your heart. It is quick and efficient—in fact, it takes less time to run the test than set up for it!
A muscular pump, the heart is composed of four chambers, namely a couple of upper chambers known as atria and a couple of lower chambers known as ventricles. A natural electrical system facilitates the contraction of the heart muscle, which pumps blood through the heart so that it ultimately reaches your entire body Reasons for Getting EKG
There are numerous reasons why your doctor may want you to get an EKG. Reasons include, but are not limited to, assessing the electrical activity of the heart, determining the reasons for chest discomfort, locating the cause of heart disease symptoms, determining if the heart chamber walls are excessively thick, assessing the heart’s health, determining if medication is doing what it ought to and more
How to Get Ready
Before you get your EKG procedure, you will need to inform the doctor about any medications you’re on whether prescription or over the counter since lots of different types of medications can interfere with the test results. In the event that you’re on heart medicine, your doctor will let you know about any changes to how you take the medication prior to your EKG procedure
When you arrive in the room where the EKG will be performed, you will be asked to take off all jewelry and to remove things like your wallet or cellphone from your pockets. If you are a man, you’ll be asked to take off your shirt so that you’re bare-chested over the course of the test. If you’re a woman, you’ll need to strip down to your bra, a gown or a shirt.
Process
The test is relatively easy from the perspective of you as the patient, and it won’t take more than 10 minutes. You will be asked to lie down on a table, and the person performing the test will place a number of small electrodes on your chest, arms and legs. These electrodes will be connected to a machine that will assess your heart activity, and the findings will be recorded for your doctor to review
Risks
The EKG test is entirely safe. Remember, the electrodes attached to your body simply monitor the electrical activity of your heart — they do not in any way transmit electricity to your body from the machine.
Dr. Gafanovich will recommend that you get the EKG test only if, after asking you a number of health-related questions, she determines that you might be at risk. After reviewing the rest results, she will get back to you if anything of concern is found.
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As your New York doctor, Dr. Gafanovich will walk an extra mile to provide high-quality medical service you deserve. Entrust your health to one of the leading Internists in Upper East Side.
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60 reviewsUpper East Side physician, Dr. Gafanovich uses the test to diagnose poor blood flow to the heart, evaluate heart abnormalities, assess your heart’s rhythm, and (in some cases) even diagnose a heart attack.
From time to time, she may ask that you have an ECG during a “resting” face and during an “exercise” phase in order to better assess your overall state of cardiovascular health. Please call (212) 249-6218 to schedule your visit with Dr. Marina Gafanovich, MD
