Course Work - Electrocardiogram Flashcards
What is the principle?
- Records the electrical activity generated by heart muscle
- Electrical charge reaching the skin surface is very small
What is being measured?
The waveforms produced by the heart’s electrical system. These are analysed in the following way: Rhythm regularity, heart rate, P wave morphology, PR interval or PRi, QRS complex duration and morphology
What is the meaning of P waves?
Indicates the SA node has activated and the atria are contracting, pumping blood into the ventricles.
What is the meaning of PR interval?
Indicates the trust time for the electrical signal to travel from the SA node to the AV node
What is the QRS complex?
Indicates the AV node activation, ventricular depolarisation and contraction of the ventricles
What is the QT interval?
Represents electrical depolarisation and depolarisation of the ventricles
What are T waves?
Represents ventricular repolarization (recovery)
What is arrhythmia?
Normal range 60-100 bmp but, irregular rhythm, varying with ventilation. Heart rate frequently increases with inspiration decreasing with expiration. Possibly the result of heart attach or heart failure, increases chance of stroke.
What is Tachycardia?
Characterised by a pulse rate of more than 100 bpm.
What is Bradycardia?
A slow heart rate, under 60 bpm in adults. Typically does not cause symptoms until rate drops below 50 bpm.
Symptoms of bradycardia
Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and at very low rates, fainting - slow heart rate during sleep
Symptoms of Tachycardia
Shortness of breath, pigheadedness, raid pulse rate, chest pain, fainting.
Inappropriate sinus Tachycardia can result from…
hypertension, hypoxia, congestive heart failure, bleeding.
