The resting electrocardiogram (ECG) is a fundamental medical procedure for assessing heart health.
By recording the electrical signals emitted by the heart at rest, this examination provides crucial information on rhythm, conduction and possible cardiac anomalies.
This article explores in depth the resting ECG, its clinical importance and interpretation.
What is an electrocardiogram?
An ECG (electrocardiogram) records the electrical activity of your heart.
The ECG can be performed effort or even at rest. It provides information on your heart rate and rhythm.
To find out all you need to know about stress ECGs, we recommend you read the precise article on this subject by clicking here.
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood through contractions caused by electrical impulses.
Under normal circumstances, electrical impulses travel through the heart, which contracts around 60 to 80 times a minute at rest (depending on your physical condition).
Each contraction of the ventricles represents a heartbeat.
Unlike the exercise ECG, the resting ECG doesn't require you to exert yourself, and the aim of the test is to assess your condition while you're at rest.
It's a very simple, quick and painless test. The resting ECG can detect certain heart conditions.
It can be used to visualize old infarctions, hypertrophy of the heart and rhythm disorders.
The examination takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes, and no preparation is required.
And what is a resting ecg?
A resting electrocardiogram (ECG) is a non-invasive medical procedure that records the electrical activity of the heart when the patient is calm.
Electrodes placed on the skin pick up the electrical signals emitted by the heart, creating a graphic trace known as an ECG.
This test assesses heart rhythm, electrical conduction and any cardiac abnormalities such as arrhythmia or ischemia.
The resting ECG is a valuable resource for physicians, providing information to diagnose heart problems, determine appropriate treatments and monitor an individual's cardiovascular health.
Stress ECG VS Resting ECG
The stress electrocardiogram (ECG) and the resting ECG are two distinct medical procedures used to assess heart health.
The resting ECG records the heart's electrical activity when the patient is calm, providing an overview of the heart's rhythm and conduction under normal conditions.
In contrast, the stress ECG is taken while the patient is exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike.
This makes it possible to observe the heart's responses to physical stress, revealing any abnormalities that would not be detected at rest.
While the resting ECG is useful for diagnosing basic cardiac disorders, the exercise ECG is more effective for detecting ischemia and assessing cardiac capacity during physical exertion.
How it works the exam?
During the examination, you will lie on your back and a technician will place electrodes on your chest, arms and legs.
Data recording takes a few seconds.
We will then remove the electrodes from your body, and you will be able to resume your daily activities. You will feel no pain or discomfort.
The various services offered by the Cardiovascular Evaluation Center in LavalSt-Jérôme and Vaudreuil-Dorion, you can monitor your heart health quickly and affordably.
Some services are covered by RAMQ.
