(Nurse Cheung) EKG Basics

Isoelectric Line

Acts as a critical base line representing the moment when the heart’s electrical activity shows no net movement where there is a zero electrical potential state.

Also essential for interpreting the heart’s electrical signals accurately, allowing healthcare professionals to distinguish between the various phases of the heart activity such as depolarization and repolarization

P wave

Signifies atrial depolarization this is where the two atrial contract

QRS Complex

Signifies ventricular depolarization, the period where the heart’s ventricles contract

T wave

Represents ventricular repolarization marking the period where the ventricles are relaxing

When does atrial repolarization take place?

During the timeframe of the QRS complex, as it is such a profound structure it overshadows the atrial repolarization, because of the ventricles contracting so forcefully

How is blood pressure measured?

Blood pressure measures how forcefully blood is pushing against the walls of our arteries as the heart circulates it throughout the body

A blood pressure reading is going to consist of two numbers:

Systolic and Diastolic Pressure

Systolic Pressure

This is going to be the top number you see in the reading reflecting the peak pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pumps blood out of the heart, indicating how hard the heart has to work in order to circulate the blood. A high systolic reading may suggest that the heart is exerting too much effort, which is a potential indicator of hypertension

(LUB SOUND)

Diastolic Pressure

The bottom number that we see. And this represents the lowest pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxed between beats. It measures the resistance to blood flow within our arteries. Elevated diastolic pressure means that arteries are narrow or could be too stiff increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke etc

120/80