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Why Do an ECG?
Why Do an ECG?
An ECG (electrocardiogram) records the heart’s electrical activity, showing how fast it’s beating, whether the rhythm is regular, and if any abnormal signals are present. It helps spot:
Arrhythmias – irregular heartbeats (too fast, too slow, or chaotic).
Ischemia or heart attacks – reduced blood flow that shows up as specific wave changes.
Structural problems – enlarged chambers or strain on the heart muscle.
Electrolyte imbalances – abnormal potassium or calcium levels that affect the tracing.
Effects of medications or devices – how drugs or pacemakers are influencing the heart’s electrical pattern.
Because it’s quick, painless, and non‑invasive, a resting ECG is often the first test doctors order when evaluating chest pain, palpitations, fainting, or routine heart health.
What is a Cardiac Physiologist?
What is a Cardiac Physiologist?
A cardiac physiologist (or cardiac technologist) is a healthcare professional who specializes in performing and interpreting tests that evaluate the heart’s function. They operate equipment like ECG machines, Holter monitors, stress‑test systems, echocardiography, and sometimes invasive catheter‑lab devices. Their main duties include:
Conducting diagnostic studies – recording electrical activity, imaging the heart, or measuring blood flow under the guidance of a cardiologist.
Ensuring patient safety and comfort – explaining procedures, positioning electrodes, and monitoring vitals during tests.
Analyzing data – measuring intervals, waveforms, velocities, or pressures, and flagging abnormalities for the physician’s review.
Maintaining equipment – calibrating and troubleshooting devices to guarantee accurate results.
By bridging the technical and clinical worlds, cardiac physiologists help cardiologists diagnose arrhythmias, coronary disease, valve disorders, and other cardiac conditions, ultimately guiding treatment decisions.
Why Do an Echocardiogram?
Why Do an Echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram (echo) uses ultrasound to create real‑time images of the heart’s structure and blood flow. It’s done to:
See the heart’s anatomy – chamber size, wall thickness, valve shape, and major vessels.
Assess heart function – measure how well the heart pumps (ejection fraction) and detect wall‑motion abnormalities.
Detect valve problems – stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage) of the aortic, mitral, tricuspid, or pulmonary valves.
Identify congenital defects – holes in the septum, abnormal connections, or malformed chambers.
Evaluate blood flow dynamics – Doppler analysis shows pressure gradients, shunts, and turbulence that indicate disease severity.
Guide treatment decisions – helps decide if surgery, catheter‑based repair, or medication is needed, and monitors results after interventions.
Because it’s non‑invasive, painless, and provides both anatomical and functional information in real time, echo is a go‑to test for most heart‑related complaints and routine cardiac check‑ups.
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