ECG (Electrocardiogram): Benefits and Drawbacks

This page covers the advantages and disadvantages of ECG (Electrocardiogram) test data. It mentions the benefits or advantages of ECG and the drawbacks or disadvantages of ECG (Electrocardiogram).

What is ECG Data?

A heart attack usually occurs due to a loss of blood supply to the heart muscle. This happens when one or more coronary arteries become blocked due to various reasons like fatty deposits, plaques, viruses, etc.

It is essential to get an ECG test done when a person feels chest pain, dizziness, a rapid pulse, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, etc.

It’s advisable to have an ECG (Electrocardiogram) test at regular intervals to detect any abnormalities in the heart.

ECG is a medical test performed using an ECG sensor and a machine called an electrocardiograph. The ECG sensor consists of electrodes placed on the chest to record electrical signals.

The normal ECG curve is shown in the figure above, which can be seen on the monitor or printed on paper.

The ECG curve consists of five states: P, Q, R, S, and T, each corresponding to different phases of heart activity.

Any abnormalities in the heartbeat cause changes in the ECG curve patterns. Cardiologists analyze these changes to determine the root cause and diagnose heart patients.

ECG helps doctors determine or detect abnormal heart rhythm, blocked or narrowed arteries, etc.

The sensor and machine that collect ECG data are known as an ECG sensor or ECG machine.

The AD8232 IC module is an example of an ECG sensor. It consists of three electrodes attached to the right arm (RA), left arm (LA), and right leg (RL). It generates an output analog signal representing the heartbeat. The output can be read by any microcontroller board or Arduino Uno board or displayed on an oscilloscope. As shown, the AD8232 is powered using a 3.3V LDO Voltage Regulator. It can also be powered using an Arduino Uno board.

A 12-lead ECG, consisting of 10 electrodes, provides a complete picture of the heart. This 12-lead ECG records heart activities from different angles in two planes: horizontal and vertical.

Benefits or Advantages of ECG

Following are the benefits or advantages of ECG data collected by ECG sensor:

• ECG is helpful to measure three basic parameters of clinical interest: rhythm and heart rate, axis of the heart, and state of the myocardial muscle.
• ECG represents data in a topographic form, providing higher diagnostic information.
• ECG helps prevent heart attacks by analyzing heart parameters at the initial stage.
• ECG is used to detect the cardiac conditions of patients after surgical or any other operation and after the application of anesthesia.
• ECG tests are quick, painless, and safe.
• ECG tests are relatively inexpensive.

Drawbacks or Disadvantages of ECG Test

Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of the ECG test:

• It does not always provide underlying heart problems for patients not having any symptoms.
• It does not always provide help in accurate diagnosis. More tests are often needed to trace serious heart problems undetected by a normal ECG curve.