What does an ECG show?
The recording reflects rhythm and conduction disturbances, signs of a previous heart attack, hypertrophy of the heart, electrolyte disturbances and indirect signs of ischemia. The examination takes several minutes: electrodes are applied to the chest and limbs, the patient lies quietly. An ECG is required before any operation, for chest pain, shortness of breath, heart failure, and as part of an annual preventive examination after 40 years.
What is functional diagnostics
Functional diagnostics evaluates not the structure of an organ, but its work: how the heart contracts, how a nerve impulse is conducted, how pressure changes during the day, how much air passes through the bronchi.
These methods complement ultrasound and tomography: structural studies show how the organ looks, and functional studies show how it copes with its task. Many rhythm disturbances, ischemia and epileptic activity are detected only here.
Basic methods
- ECG - basic recording of the electrical activity of the heart
- Holter monitoring - continuous ECG recording throughout the day
- ABPM - 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
- stress tests (treadmill test) - assessment of the heart during physical activity
- EEG - registration of bioelectrical activity of the brain
- spirometry - study of respiratory function
Why is a one-time entry not enough?
Many disorders are transient: arrhythmia occurs several times a day, ischemia occurs only during exercise, and pressure increases occur at night or at work. A regular ECG lasts tens of seconds and easily misses such episodes, so 24-hour monitoring or exercise tests are prescribed.