If you visit your doctor with complaints of chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath, he or she may use an Electrocardiography ECG machine to evaluate your heart function. Also known as an electrocardiogram, an ECG evaluates the electrical activity of your heartbeat. Here are some cardiovascular conditions that an electrocardiogram may reveal.
Bradycardia
An ECG test can reveal a condition known as bradycardia. This means that your heart is beating too slow. If you have bradycardia, it may mean that you have blocked carotid arteries, which are located on the sides of your neck.
When your heart beats too slow, you may experience lightheadedness, fainting, weakness, and fatigue. Bradycardia can also cause confusion and angina pectoris, or chest pain. If your cardiologist diagnoses you with bradycardia, he or she may recommend a pacemaker to regulate your heart rate.
Tachycardia
Your ECG test can also detect tachycardia, or a rapid heart rate. If your electrocardiogram detects tachycardia, your physician will need to know if it is simply a response to anxiety, too much caffeine, or excess weight, or a more serious problem. Tachycardia is often treated with beta blockers, which are cardiovascular medications that slow down the heart rate.
Beta blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure, migraine headaches, anxiety, and chest pain. While effective in treating tachycardia, beta blockers can cause blurred vision, fatigue, dizziness, exercise intolerance, and dry mouth. Some people may also develop abnormal lipid profiles while taking beta blockers.
