Electrocardiogram (ECG) (cont.)
Interpreting the ECG Results
Interpretation of an ECG is no simple matter.
- There are hundreds of patterns to recognize.
- It may be impossible to tell how long an abnormality has been present.
- This issue becomes crucial in an emergency situation when a person has symptoms consistent with a heart problem and an abnormal ECG.
Some or all of the abnormalities may have been caused by an event long in the past and unrelated to the current situation.
- Some people are even born with ECG abnormalities.
- This can make it difficult to identify which problems require urgent treatment.
- This is the equivalent of examining a car that has been in both a recent car accident and accidents in the past. Which dents were caused by which accident?
For these reasons, if you have either a heart condition or an abnormal ECG, you would be wise to keep a recent copy of your ECG handy in your wallet, purse, or car glove compartment for immediate availability.
- This way you will be able to provide your baseline ECG to a very grateful emergency care provider in case you unexpectedly end up in an emergency department, especially in the middle of the night or far from home.
- A copy of your ECG can be shrunk to credit card size and laminated to be carried in your wallet. If you have an abnormal ECG or you travel a lot, ask your health care provider about doing this for you.
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