how to interpret ekg course

What is an EKG?

EKG, also known as electrocardiogram or electrocardiograph is a test that records and monitors the patient’s electrical impulses and rhythms of the heart. With its help, the physician interprets the results or supportive diagnosis procedures for any heart abnormalities.

How does EKG work?

In the general term, both EKG and ECG are used in the same way that is to measure the electrical activities of the heart. Both of them are helpful in measuring heart rate and its variability, stress, fatigues, breathing index, moods, etc in the simpler and quicker ways. You will get more and more fascinating facts when you dive deep into the working of EKG and ECG. They ensure to keep your heart at a steady pace if the electrical impulses travel across the muscular cells of the heart and trigger contractions. Thus, performing with this, you can measure and record it as well. This is because, by pairing with algorithms, an Electrocardiogram biosensor is a device which collects the data and translates it into an actionable insight for the sake of individual health.

When was EKG invented?

The evolutionary factor of ECG and EKG technology is very futuristic in a lot of ways. The technology actually began to be developed in the late 19th century. This was a milestone moment in the sphere of technology when it occurred in 1905, by a Dutch physiologist Dr. Willem Einthoven. He was the first human electrocardiogram.

What is an EKG machine?

An EKG machine measures the heart’s electrical activities and includes a non-invasive test to measure many aspects of the heart. There is an abnormal EKG too. In some cases, you may have seen the normal variations of a heart’s rhythm that inversely affects health. In those situations, abnormal EKG is done determining the signal ...

What is Elite Medical Academy?

Elite Medical Academy provides you with an all-round of technical aspects through its advanced EKG technician training and great practices. You can get a better idea if you are choosing your profession as an EKG technician. Although these blogs give you a basic overview regarding EKG, only proper training can help you to become a perfectionist in ...

Is it safe to do an EKG?

The process of EKG is very simple, quick, safe as well as painless. More often, the doctors suggest going for EKG in order to check the heart rhythms, blood circulations of the heart muscles, heart attack diagnosis, any abnormalities with the heart muscle and some other factors associated with the heart. An EKG machine measures the heart’s ...

Lessons

Learn EKG interpretation using our 15 courses. Each course takes about an hour's time and includes lessons with interactive practice questions.

EKG Coaching

Practice EKG analysis and interpretation skills within our interpretation coaching and quiz web apps.

What is the purpose of the EKG course?

The purpose of this course is to familiarize the nurse with different types of EKGs and the EKG waveform and to help the nurse to identify both normal and abnormal EKG findings.

What is an EKG?

An electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) is a record of the electrical activity of the heart. While the EKG cannot provide information about the mechanical functioning of the heart, it can demonstrate the rate and rhythm and abnormalities in conduction. Additionally, changes in

How many liters of blood does the heart pump?

With each heartbeat, the heart pumps about 60 to 90 mL resulting in circulation of 5 to 7 liters of blood every minute and 7600 liters per day with an average heart rate of 70 beats per minute. The normal heart ejects about 65% of the intraventricular volume in each cardiac cycle (referred to as the ejection fraction).

Where does blood enter the heart?

Blood enters the heart through the superior vena cava into the right atrium. When the pressure in the right atrium exceeds that of the pressure in the right ventricle, the tricuspid valve opens, allowing the blood to flow into the ventricle until the pressure increases in the ventricle, forcing the tricuspid valve to close.

How to determine if QT interval is prolonged?

When determining whether the QT interval is prolonged, measure the distance between the RR interval and check where the T wave ends. If the T wave ends past the halfway duration of the R-R interval, then the Q-T interval is prolonged.

What is the purpose of the atrial kick?

Atrial systole (atrial kick): Provides the additional 30% of blood for the ventricles. The atrial kick (contraction of the atria) occurs with depolarization of atrial myocardial cells at the sinoatrial node (P wave) and is essential for adequate filling of the ventricles. Cardiac conduction: .

What are the phases of depolarization?

The heart goes through 5 phases of depolarization-repolarization: . 0: Period of rapid depolarization (contraction) during which sodium and calcium channels are open and sodium moves quickly into the cell and calcium more slowly. 1: Early repolarization during which the sodium channels close.

What are the most important EKG patterns to detect?

Cardiac Ischemia and infarctions are the most important acute EKG patterns to detect. We will dealwith the life threatening arrhythmias, such as Asystole, V-Fib and V-Tach in the next section as theyare radically different from normal EKG's, and should be handled separately.

What is the term for the increase in the size of the myocytes in the myocardium?

Hypertrophy is the increase in size of the myocytes in the myocardium, leading to thicker walls. It canbe non-pathological, as in the case of people who frequently perform isometric exercise (lifting heavyweights, with the straining and Valsalva maneuver, produces an increased afterload).

Who is Henry Feldman?

Henry Feldman is a Medical Student in the Class of 2001 at the NYU School of Medicine. Heis also a Massachusetts licensed EMT, a Nationally registered EMT as well as being ACLScertified. He is the webmaster for the NYU School of Medicine Student Organization WebSites. He also produced all the artwork in this publication (except for the Ox-heart byLeonardo DaVinci). He is also an AHA CPR instructor. He can be reached at his email:

What is block in electrical?

block is an interruption of the normal flow of an electrical impulse traveling down from the SAnode to the ventricles. The blocks can occur in the SA and AV nodes as well as in the bundles.

Who is Mariano Rey?

Mariano Rey, Class of 1976 at the NYU School of Medicine is the Director of the BellevueCardiac Clinic, Director of the NYU Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention Center, Director ofthe first-year Physiology Course, and is an associate professor of the NYU School ofMedicine. He is also Director of Nuclear Cardiology and the Cardiac Stress Labratory. He can

Who is Daniel Fisher?

Daniel Fisher, is a clinical instructor in the Department of Medicine, division of Cardiology.He is also the associate director of the Bellevue Stress Laboratory. He is also the Director ofIn-patient Services at the NYU Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention Center. He acted both asan editor and sounding board for parts of this publication. He can be reached at his email:

What is digitalis used for?

Digitalis is a very old cardiac drug derived from the Foxglove plant, used in slowing conduction throughthe AV node, usually in controlling the ventricular rate of atrial fibrillation. It is usually given in cases ofatrial fibrillation. Overdoses of digitalis (either in the form of Digoxin or Digitoxin) can have effectsranging from mild 1 ˙ AV block to junctional rhythms through fatal arrhythmias. The primary mechanismof action of digitalis is to suppress the Na-K-ATPase pump; this causes the membrane potential to bemore positive, allowing for easier reaching of threshold, leading to action potentials. This creates asituation where it is easy to get spontaneous action potentials, leading to arrhythmias.

Course Details

Understanding and interpreting electrocardiogram (EKG) rhythms can be confusing and intimidating. This EKG course breaks through the complexity and eliminates the overwhelm. We’ll show you the basics of how electricity flows through the heart and how that translates onto the EKG waveform.

Lesson 03.01 – Normal Sinus Rhythm

In lesson 03.01, Normal Sinus Rhythm, you will be guided through the six steps in rhythm interpretation to identify this type of rhythm which is regular, having a rate between 60 to 100 with other defining characteristics.

Lesson 03.02 – Sinus Bradycardia

In lesson 03.02, Sinus Bradycardia, you will gain a specific understanding of this rhythm which is defined as a normal sinus rhythm with a rate less than 60 with additional information through the six steps of interpretation.

Lesson 03.05 – Atrial Fibrillation

In lesson 03.05, Atrial Fibrillation also known as A-Fib, you will learn that atrial fibrillation results from multiple disorganized cells which produce additional electrical impulses in the atria.