therapieselectrocardiography

Electrocardiography, often abbreviated as ECG or EKG, is a non-invasive medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time. This electrical activity is detected by electrodes placed on the skin of the chest, arms, and legs. The resulting recording, also called an electrocardiogram, provides a visual representation of the heart's rhythm and can reveal abnormalities in heart rate and electrical conduction.

Therapies related to electrocardiography primarily fall into two categories: diagnostic and therapeutic applications. As a diagnostic tool, ECG is fundamental in identifying a wide range of cardiac conditions. This includes diagnosing arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), myocardial infarction (heart attack), ischemia (reduced blood flow to the heart muscle), and electrolyte imbalances. The characteristic patterns on an ECG can help differentiate between various types of heart disease and guide subsequent treatment decisions.

In terms of therapeutic applications, while ECG itself is not a therapy, it plays a crucial role in monitoring the effectiveness of cardiac treatments. For instance, after a patient receives medication to control their heart rhythm or undergoes procedures like angioplasty or pacemaker implantation, ECG is used to assess whether the therapy is working as intended and to detect any adverse effects. In emergency settings, rapid ECG analysis can be critical for initiating life-saving interventions such as defibrillation for certain life-threatening arrhythmias, where the ECG pattern guides the decision to deliver an electrical shock. Therefore, electrocardiography is an indispensable tool in both the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases.