ECG/EKG Program Flashnotes

EKG/ECG

A tracing of the heart's electrical activity recorded by an electrocardiogram machine, noninvasive and painless

Heart problems detected by an EKG

• Arrhythmias (Abnormal heart rhythm )

• Coronary artery disease (blocked or narrowed arteries in your heart causing chest pain or a heart attack

• Myocardial infarction ( blocked coronary arteries )

• How well pacemakers, or certain heart disease treatments, are working

Reasons to get an EKG

• Chest pain (angina)

• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or confusion

• Heart palpitations

• Rapid pulse (tachycardia)

• Shortness of breath

• Weakness, fatigue, or a decline in the ability to exercise

Myocardial Infarction ( MI )

A blockage of one or more coronary arteries causing lack of oxygen to the heart and death of the muscle tissue

Coronary Artery Disease ( CAD)

Narrowing of the arteries of the heart causing a reduction of blood flow

Angina

chest pain

Tachycardia

Rapid Pulse

Myocardial Infarction

Had a previous heart attack

Arrhythmias

Abnormal heart rhythm

What was Dr. Luigi Giovanni known for? (1786)

The 1st to point out electrical activity in animal tissue

What was Augustus Waller known for? (1877)

demonstrated the first electrocardiogram using a capillary electrometer and electrodes, relating electrical activity to ventricular contraction

What was Dr. Willem Einthoven known for?

innovated the EKG for clinical use by refining the electrometer and identifying PQRST waves

Einthoven’s triangle

received the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine for his work in creating the first method to assess cardiac/clinical issues

What was Dr. Frank N. Wilson known for?

creating V1-V6, with ‘V’ standing for vector. These became known as the precordial leads and would revolutionize the use of EKG

what is E.H.R

computerized lifelong healthcare

record with data from all sources (physicians, hospitals, laboratories,

radiology, etc.)

what is E.M.R

computerized healthcare record of

only one physician's office encounters with a patient

What does Privacy Rule protect

protect all healthcare records

What does Security Rule protect

protect records sent electronically (e-PHI)

“ work horse “ of the heart

The left ventricle; thick myocardium and powerful muscular contraction

Hyperventilation

Excessive rate & depth of breathing

Dyspena

Difficult or painful breathing

Tachypnea

Rapid breathing

Hyperpnea

abnormally rapid, deep, or labored breathing

Indications of possible diseases

Rales

crackling sounds, possibly have fluid in the

lungs (pneumonia patients, congestive heart failure, ect.)

Rhonchi

wheezing or snore-like sounds (airways are narrowed or obstructed)

Blood Pressure ( systolic BP and Diastolic BP)

The force in which blood is pumped against the walls of the arteries and is measured by millimeters of mercury (mmHg)

Affecting factors: overweight/obese, lack of physical activity, over-consumption of alcohol, stress, age, genetics

Affecting Internal factors: cardiac output, blood volume, vasoconstriction ( constricted blood vessels), Atherosclerotic plaque in blood vessels, blood viscosity (thickness)

Systolic Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure measured by the contraction of the left ventricle

Diastolic Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure measured when the heart relaxes; minimum amount of pressure exerted against the vessel walls at all times

Prehypertension

Systolic BP: 120-139mmHg

Diastolic BP: 80-90mmHg

Stage 1 Hypertension

Systolic BP: 140-159mmHg

Diastolic BP: 90-99 mmHg

Stage 2 Hypertension

Systolic BP: 160+mmHg

Diastolic BP: 100+ mmHg

Hypertension (Essential & Secondary)

High Blood Pressure (not chronic)

Essential Hypertension - no identifiable cause also known as Idiopathic

Secondary Hypertension - results from conditions like kidney or heart disease

Severe Hypertension - may present with dehydration, shock, heart failure, severe burns, and excessive bleeding

Hypotension

Low Blood Pressure (reduction of blood flow to vital organs)

Layers of the heart

Pericardium - two layered sac if tissue enclosing the heart

Myocardium - the contractile muscular element of the heart

Epicardium - outside thin layer of the heart that contains the coronary arteries, inner layer of pericardium

Endocardium - inner layer of the heart that lines the chambers and valves

Pulmonary Circulation

Transportation of blood to and from the lungs, blood is oxygenated

Systemic Circulation

Oxygenated blood is pumped throughout the body and back to the heart

Coronary Circulation

Circulation of blood to and from the heart muscle

Cardiac Cycle

The contraction and relaxation of the heart

Systole

Contraction phase of cardiac cycle, heart pumps blood out to the pulmonary (lungs) and systemic (body) circulation

Diastole

Phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart is relaxed, expanding and refilling with blood

Automaticity

Heart's ability to initiate an electrical impulse without being stimulated by an independent source

Conductivity

Heart cells ability to receive and transmit electrical impulse

Contractility

Heart muscle cells ability to shorten in response to an electrical stimulus

Excitability/ Irritability

Heart muscle cells ability to respond to an impulse or stimulus

Sympathetic

Branch of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) that causes an increase in the heart rate

Parasympathetic

Branch of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) that helps slow the heart rate

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

An area of specialized cells in the upper right atrium initiates the heartbeat. Pacemaker of the heart

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

Delays the electrical impulse to allow the atria to complete their contraction

Bundle of HIS ( Atrioventricular or AV Bundle)

Located next to the AV node; it provides the transfer of the electrical impulse from the atria to the ventricles

Bundle Branches

Left and Right branches of the bundle of HIS that conduct impulses on either side of the interventricular septum to the left and right ventricles

Purkinje Fibers

Fibers within the heart that distribute electrical impulse from cell to cell throughout the ventricles. Causes heart to beat as single unit

Automaticity

heart will work on its own, independent from external influences

Conductivity

heart cells receive and conduct impulses from the SA node to create a heartbeat, they control the heart muscle as one unit

Contractibility

heart cells will contract and relax, moving its chambers to create a heartbeat

Polarization

State of cellular rest, inside is negatively charged and outside is positive charged

Depolarization

Electrical activation of the cells of the heart starts the contraction of the heart muscle

Repolarization

Return of the heart muscle cells to resting electrical state causing diastole of the heart muscle

Ischemia

sudden loss or reduction in blood supply to heart tissue