ECG Check Up:
Cost, Process & How to do ECG Test at Home?

What is ECG Check Up? 

An ECG test helps to monitor the electrical activity of your heart in a quick and painless procedure. It is sometimes referred to as an ECG. An electrical signal passes from the top of your heart to the bottom of your heart, starting each beat. Heart disorders frequently have an impact on electrical activity. An electrocardiogram ECG check-up is a test that records electrical signals in the heart. It's a common and effortless test for detecting heart problems and monitoring heart health.

Why ECG Check Up?

To assess how well the heart is functioning, an ECG test may be performed as part of a routine examination, such as before surgery. An ECG test helps a cardiologist to diagnose and monitor conditions affecting the heart. It can be used to examine symptoms of a possible heart problem, such as chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeats, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Who should do ECG Check Up?

In India, the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing at an unprecedented rate. It is very important to get regular checkups of the heart because of modern and sedentary lifestyle impacts. However, apart from that, ECG check-ups are commonly used to monitor the health of people who have been diagnosed with heart problems, evaluate artificial cardiac pacemakers, and assess the effects of certain medications on the heart.

When should an ECG Check be done?

If you have any of the following symptoms or signs that could point to a cardiac condition, your doctor could advise getting an ECG:

• Chest Pain
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling tired or weak
• Pounding, racing or fluttering of your heart
• A feeling that your heart is beating unevenly
• Detection of unusual sounds when your doctor listens to your heart

Your doctor may be able to tell if the heart's chambers are perhaps too big or overworked by monitoring the electrical activity of the heart. In other circumstances, an ECG can assist in identifying the origin of your symptoms and the potential course of treatment. Your doctor can also request an ECG to check for early indications of heart disease if you have a family history of the condition. No matter what your age, it's crucial to be aware of any symptoms that could point to a cardiac condition and to discuss scheduling an ECG with a physician.

How to do an ECG Test at Home?

It just takes 30 seconds to get an ECG at home with AliveCor’s KardiaMobile 6L. It just requires you to put your fingers on its electrodes (for a single-lead ECG). Two thumbs and your left ankle/knee (for a 6-lead ECG). This provides instant shareable ECG readings on your smartphone or tablet. It is an easy and hassle-free process that takes just 30 seconds for taking an ECG anytime, anywhere. 
Here's how to take a 6 lead recording using KardiaMobile 6L -

• Open the Kardia app on your smartphone. Once you've set up the device, the KardiaMobile 6L recording starts with a screen that shows when Kardia app is ready. It indicates that the Kardia app is ready to begin recording an ECG on your KardiaMobile device.
• Make sure you have your KardiaMobile device at hand before you begin. Set your phone or tablet in front of you and place it on a table. You should hold the KardiaMobile 6L in your hands with the "A" symbol facing you and should not read as “V”.
• Start by placing your right hand thumbs on the right electrode, followed by your left hand fingers on the left electrode, to begin recording. A green contact indicator will appear when you make contact with the KardiaApp.
• On your left knee or left ankle, place the single bottom electrode in contact with the bare skin. Kardia begins recording at this point when the electrode makes contact with the body and a green indicator appears.
• You can follow the above steps by referring the below video.

Can we do an ECG Test at Home?

Yes, you can easily take an ECG test at home. A 30-second ECG test can be recorded using AliveCor's KardiaMobile 6L. It is the world's only 6-lead personal ECG monitor that has been cleared by the US FDA. AliveCor also offers a single-lead ECG device that supports single-lead monitoring that is the most widely used personal ECG device globally. Recording an ECG with KardiaMobile is extremely easy.

Why are ECG checks performed?

• Detects cardiac rhythm abnormalities that may contribute to complications like stroke.
• Find signs of heart disease, such as a recent or continuing heart attack, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), coronary artery blockages, areas of heart muscle damage (from a prior heart attack), enlargement of the heart, and inflammation of the sac around the heart (pericarditis).
• Find non-heart issues like lung illnesses and electrolyte abnormalities.
• Monitor the effectiveness of specific heart drugs or a pacemaker, the recovery from a heart attack, the development of heart disease, or other conditions.
• Check for concealed cardiac problems in patients getting ready for surgery.

How to differentiate between Normal ECG and Abnormal ECG?

In a normal ECG, your heart should beat at a steady rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute. An ECG test can reveal a variety of heart conditions, such as a fast, slow, or abnormal heart rhythm, a heart defect, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, or an enlarged heart. An abnormal ECG may also indicate that you've had a heart attack in the past or are at risk of having one in the near future. If you're in good health and don't have a family or personal history of heart disease, you don't need an ECG on a regular basis. However, if you have heart problems, your doctor may advise you to have this test.

Which is the best option for an ECG Test at Home?

An ECG monitor measures and records your heart rate and rhythm, displaying it in a wave-like pattern. You should go for a device that is clinical tested, easy to use, accurate, and cost-effective. AliveCor’s Kardia Mobile 6L meets all the expectations. It is incredibly portable and does not uses any wires, gels etc.