ECG (Electrocardiogram) is a medical test which measures the electrical activity of a heart. It detects and records the heart's rhythm and activity, showing the changes over a period of time. ECG is part of a health screening regime.
Now, if you have an ECG done and you are told that it is normal, should you worry about a heart attack? The short answer is that you should still watch out for the signs of a heart attack. Your normal ECG merely shows that your risk of a heart attack is less than somebody with an abnormal ECG. It is also a snapshot of your heart's condition at that particular point in time. Your heart's condition may change over time especially if you have the risk factors for heart disease.
ECG can tell whether there is enlargement of the heart due to hypertension (high blood pressure). It can also detect evidence of a heart attack that had occurred. However, ECG cannot predict the risk of a future heart attack or shows if there is asymptomatic (not showing any symptom) blockage in the heart arteries.
So if you have the risk factors for heart disease, you should continue to be watchful for the signs of heart attack, even if you have a normal ECG.
Here are some of the risk factors of heart disease :
Now, if you have an ECG done and you are told that it is normal, should you worry about a heart attack? The short answer is that you should still watch out for the signs of a heart attack. Your normal ECG merely shows that your risk of a heart attack is less than somebody with an abnormal ECG. It is also a snapshot of your heart's condition at that particular point in time. Your heart's condition may change over time especially if you have the risk factors for heart disease.
ECG can tell whether there is enlargement of the heart due to hypertension (high blood pressure). It can also detect evidence of a heart attack that had occurred. However, ECG cannot predict the risk of a future heart attack or shows if there is asymptomatic (not showing any symptom) blockage in the heart arteries.
So if you have the risk factors for heart disease, you should continue to be watchful for the signs of heart attack, even if you have a normal ECG.
Here are some of the risk factors of heart disease :
- Smoking
- Lack of exercise
- High blood cholesterol level.
- Obesity
- Diabetes.
- Stress
