What Is the Reliability of an EKG Test?

The EKG test, or the electrocardiogram, is a common medical procedure which measures the electrical activity of the heart by sensitive leads which are placed on the skin of the patient. It is one of the most common procedures used in medical practice, and is considered highly reliable.

History of the EKG

• EKG paper

  The EKG was developed in 1903 by Willem Einthoven. Einthoven used the string galvanometer which he invented to measure the minute electrical currents which spread throughout the heart muscle with each beat. By recording the electrical impulses on paper over time, he was able to introduce the EKG to the medical world.

Function of the EKG

• The EKG measures the electrical current which travels throughout the heart as the heart muscle contracts in response to a number of physiological controls which the body exerts on the heart to maintain a regular, healthy heartbeat. When the heart has any anatomic or physiological anomaly that blocks or changes the regular flow of electrical current, the EKG records these changes, which are then interpreted by a doctor.

EKG Interpretation and Reliability

• The EKG is no more than a series of lines on a long strip of paper to the untrained eye. It is only through careful inspection by the trained eye of a doctor that the EKG can help diagnose disease. Since the EKG relies on very minute electrical currents, it is possible that a number of things can affect the quality of the EKG readings. Typically interference can easily be ruled out by the attending physician. The fact remains that a proper EKG is still almost unmatched in its usefulness when diagnosing heart disease of many natures.