ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY (ECG)

HEART CONDITIONS

Heart Disease is the number one cause of untimely deaths in the world. Bad lifestyle choices is the main cause for cardiac disease. Fatty food, lack of exercise, stress, smoking and alcohol are bad for heart health. Genetics also plays an important role in heart disease. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common amongst the heart diseases. In this the arteries supplying blood to the heart get clogged which reduces the supply of blood to the heart. This results in cardiac arrest and can cause sudden death.

Other heart diseases include defect in one of the heart valves, irregular heart beat, hole in the heart, increase in the heart size, reduced blood pumping etc.

ECG & OTHER TESTS

Electrocardiography (ECG) is one of the most basic test for heart. In this test 12 electrodes are attached to the body of the patient. 8 electrodes are attached to the chest while 2 electrodes are attached to the wrist and two to the ankles. These electrodes capture the electric signals from the skin which are produced by the heart during each beat. This is plotted on the screen and a qualified doctor is able to analyze the rythem and elecrical activity of the heart. The test is extremely useful if the patient is going through a heart attack.

Other tests for heart are Treadmill Test, Echocardiography, Thallium Test, Muga Scan, CT Angiography and Cathlab Angiography. Each test gives vital information about the heart health.

COST & DOCTORS

ECG is the most basic of heart tests and is easily available at most of the physician clinics and hospital emergency. The cost of ECG in India is in the range of INR 300 - 500 which is equivalent to USD 5 - 7. An ECG machine costs INR 35,000 - 1,50,000 depending upon the number of parallel electrodes information provided by the machine. This ranges between 3 electrodes to 12 electrodes. The cost of other heart tests ranges between Rs. 1,500 - 15,000 which is equivalent to USD 20 - 200. Most of the tests for the heart are non-invasive in nature except Cath Lab Angigraphy.

Most of the tests for heart are done by Cardiologists. These are doctors who have done MBBS, MD (Medicine) and DM (Cardiology). However some of the tests like Echocardiography can also be done by doctors who hold a diploma in Cardiology.

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