【Heart Examination Items】Can heart disease be self-diagnosed? Differences between ECG, stress ECG, and 24-hour ECG tests
The heart is one of the vital organs that sustain the body's functions, and any abnormality can potentially be life-threatening. However, many heart diseases show no obvious symptoms in their early stages and are easily overlooked. This article will analyze common self-check methods for heart disease and professional equipment assessments, helping to detect heart issues early and protect heart health.
Self-Checking for Heart Disease
Heart health should not be taken lightly; early detection of problems allows for timely treatment. We can also use some simple self-check methods for heart disease to get a preliminary understanding of our own heart health condition.
Measure Blood Pressure: Monitor Blood Pressure Changes
Use a home blood pressure monitor to measure your blood pressure after sitting quietly for 5 minutes. A reading above 140/90 mmHg indicates high blood pressure, while a reading below 90/60 mmHg indicates low blood pressure, both should be monitored carefully.
Measure Pulse: Monitor Heartbeat Rhythm
Gently place your index and middle fingers on the artery inside your wrist or on either side of your neck, count the number of beats in 15 seconds, and multiply by 4 to get your heart rate per minute. A heartbeat that is too fast, too slow, or irregular could be a sign of a heart problem.
Exercise Capacity Assessment: Test Cardiopulmonary Function
Engage in light exercise such as brisk walking or climbing stairs, and observe whether you experience discomfort like chest tightness, shortness of breath, or palpitations. Feeling fatigued or having difficulty breathing after just mild exercise could be a sign of poor heart function.
Breathing Test: Observe Breathing Smoothness
In a quiet environment, take deep breaths and note whether your breathing is smooth and if you experience difficulty breathing at night. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, labored breathing, or nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea could be signs of heart or lung disease.
Observe Physical Changes: Warning Signs from the Body
Pay attention to whether the nail beds turn blue or if the ankles are swollen; these could be signs of poor heart pumping function. Other symptoms such as frequent dizziness, fatigue, or chest pain may also serve as warnings of heart issues.
Purpose of Electrocardiogram Testing
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a convenient and quick method for examining the heart. It records the subtle electrical changes produced by the heart muscle during its contractions as waveform patterns, essentially providing a complete record of the heart muscle's electrical conduction process. By analyzing an ECG, basic information about a patient’s heart—such as heart rate and changes in electrical potential—can be understood. ECG testing is not only used as a routine physical examination method but can also be applied to assess heart health before surgery, monitor the functioning of pacemakers, and evaluate a patient’s condition after taking certain medications. Additionally, an ECG may be necessary if a patient experiences the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations
- Weakness
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
Heart Examination Items - Electrocardiogram Testing
While we can perform the simple self-checks mentioned above to get a preliminary understanding of our physical condition, if symptoms persist or worsen, it’s necessary to seek a professional doctor for a comprehensive cardiovascular disease evaluation.
The term "electrocardiogram" is a general name for ECG testing. What is commonly referred to as an ECG test is the resting (static) ECG. Other types include the stress ECG and the 24-hour ECG, which are used to assess the conditions of patients with different heart diseases.
Heart Examination Item 1: Resting Electrocardiogram Testing
The most basic and simple form of ECG testing. The patient only needs to remain calm and lie flat on a bed while medical staff attach electrodes to their limbs and chest. An electrocardiogram machine (ECG) then records the electrical changes in heart activity. The resting ECG is used to observe whether there are any abnormalities in the heart at rest, such as irregular heart rhythms, atrial or ventricular hypertrophy, or myocardial ischemia.
Heart Examination Item 2: Stress Electrocardiogram Testing
For some suspected heart disease patients who do not show signs of myocardial ischemia when the heart is at rest, a cardiologist may recommend a stress ECG test. The method involves having the patient run on a treadmill to increase the heart’s oxygen demand. This allows observation of the patient’s real-time cardiopulmonary function, blood pressure, and ECG changes to assess whether the patient has ischemic heart disease.
Heart Examination Item 3: 24-Hour Electrocardiogram Monitoring
If a patient has symptoms of heart disease or suspects there are issues with their heartbeat, they may need to undergo a 24-hour continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) examination. Healthcare professionals will attach electrodes to the patient's chest, allowing the patient to carry a small recording device to monitor the heart's activity over the 24-hour period. This procedure is suitable for diagnosing cases of arrhythmia and similar conditions.
Heart Examination Item 4: Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses ultrasound imaging to observe the structure and function of the heart, including the heart valves, chamber sizes, and cardiac contractility.
Heart Examination Item 5: Cardiac CT Scan
A cardiac CT scan utilizes computed tomography technology to generate three-dimensional images of the heart and blood vessels, allowing for the examination of conditions such as coronary artery calcification and narrowing.
Heart Examination Item 6: Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Ultrasound
This examination measures the thickness of the carotid artery intima to assess the degree of arteriosclerosis and predict the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Precautions for Electrocardiogram Examination
Patients who are to undergo an electrocardiogram should avoid vigorous exercise, smoking, and consuming stimulating beverages such as coffee or strong tea for at least one hour prior to the examination. Additionally, they should remove any items that may interfere with electrical conduction, such as watches, metal jewelry, and stockings, to ensure the accuracy of the test.
Cardiology Conditions and Treatment Services at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital
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