You can book an appointment through our website or contact our clinic directly. We also accommodate walk-in patients to ensure you can get the ECG/Holter tests you need when you need them.
Best Electrocardiogram (ECG) Test Centre in Newtown
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time using electrodes placed on the skin. These electrodes detect the tiny electrical changes on the skin that arise from the heart muscle’s electrophysiologic pattern of depolarizing and repolarizing during each heartbeat. It is a very common, non-invasive procedure used in the diagnosis and monitoring of heart conditions.
What an ECG Measures:
- Rate and Rhythm: An ECG measures the rate and regularity of heartbeats. It can detect if the heart is beating too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
- Heart Position: It can indicate changes in the position of the heart axis or unusual enlargement of the heart.
- Conduction Pathways: It shows how the electrical impulse moves from one part of the heart to another.
- Previous Heart Attacks: It can show evidence of previous heart attacks or ongoing damage to the heart muscle.
- Effectiveness of Medications or Devices: It helps doctors assess how well certain heart medications are working or whether mechanical devices implanted in the heart (like a pacemaker) are effectively supporting heart function.
Uses of an ECG:
ECGs are used for a variety of reasons:
- As part of a routine physical examination, especially if the patient is over 40 years old.
- To diagnose and monitor conditions like arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and more.
- To monitor the health of the heart when other diseases or conditions are present, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, diabetes, or a family history of early heart disease.
- To assess the effectiveness of medications or surgical interventions on the heart.
Best Holter Monitoring Test Centre in Newtown
Holter monitoring is a continuous form of electrocardiographic recording; it’s essentially an extended ECG that continuously records the heart’s rhythms over a period of 24 hours or more, typically 24 to 48 hours. Unlike a standard ECG, which captures the heartbeat for only a few seconds, a Holter monitor records ongoing heart activity for the entire time the device is worn. This method provides a more comprehensive view of the heart’s function as it captures the heart’s activity through normal daily routines, during sleep, and during periods of symptoms.
Uses of Holter Monitoring:
Holter monitoring is used in various scenarios, including:
- Diagnosing Heart Rhythm Problems: It helps in diagnosing arrhythmias that might not show up on a standard ECG exam due to their sporadic nature.
- Evaluating Symptoms: It helps to determine whether unusual symptoms, such as unexplained stroke or heart palpitations, are caused by a heart rhythm problem.
- Assessing Treatment Success: It evaluates how well a treatment is working and can help in deciding whether the treatment needs to be adjusted.
Advantages of Holter Monitoring:
- Extended Monitoring: Captures a comprehensive picture of the heart’s activity over several days as opposed to a few minutes.
- Non-Invasive: The procedure is non-invasive and allows the patient to maintain normal daily activities.
- Diagnostic Tool: Provides valuable data that help in diagnosing intermittent symptoms that may relate to heart issues.