Electrocardiograms (ECGs)

• This is an example of what type of heart beat?

  Sinus rhythm, it is normal.

  
• This is an example of what type of heart rate?

  Bradycardia - it is a slow heart rate

  
• This is an example of which type of heart rate?

  Tachycardia - a fast heart rate

  
• What is going on in this ECG, how can you tell?


  This is an example of atrial fibrillation, in which the atria beat more frequently than the ventricles. We can see this because there are no clear P waves.

  
• What is going on in this ECG, what would a patient feel if they had this?

  This is an example of an ectopic heart beat, the third beat here is an early ventricular beat. The patient would feel like a heart beat has been missed.

  
• how do ECGs work?


  An Electro Cardio Gram (ECG) involves attaching sensors to the skin. some of the electrical activity of the heart spreads through the tissues of the skin- the sensors on the skin will pick up the electrical excitation created by the heart and convert it into a trace.
• on an ECG, what does the P wave show?


  A P wave on an ECG shows the excitation of the atria
• What does the QRS complex on an ECG show?


  The excitation of the ventricles
• What does the T wave on an ECG trace show?


  The diastole of the heart.