An electrocardiogram, commonly known as an ECG or EKG, is a medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The difference between the two terms is purely linguistic, originating from different language spellings of the same medical device.
The Origin of the Names
The existence of two abbreviations for the same test can be attributed to the history of its development and international usage. “ECG” is an acronym for “Electrocardiogram,” the English spelling of the term. Conversely, “EKG” stems from the German spelling, “Elektrokardiogramm.”
This German term gained international traction because pioneering work in electrocardiography was done by Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven in the early 1900s, when German was a prominent language in scientific literature. Using “EKG” also avoids confusion with “EEG,” which stands for electroencephalogram, a test that measures brain activity.
What an ECG/EKG Measures and Reveals
An ECG or EKG measures the electrical activity produced by the heart as it functions. The heart’s natural electrical impulses initiate each heartbeat, causing the heart muscle to contract and pump blood. The ECG machine records these impulses as a series of waves on a graph, providing a visual representation of the heart’s electrical rhythm and strength.
Healthcare providers analyze the patterns and timing of these waves to gain insights into heart health. For example, the P wave reflects the electrical activity of the upper heart chambers, while the QRS complex represents the electrical movement through the lower chambers. Deviations from normal wave patterns can indicate various heart conditions, such as arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), signs of a previous heart attack, or issues with blood flow to the heart muscle. The test also provides information about the heart’s rate and rhythm, and can help assess the size of heart chambers or how well pacemakers are working.
How an ECG/EKG is Performed
The procedure for an ECG or EKG is non-invasive and generally quick. During the test, a healthcare professional attaches small, sticky electrode patches to the skin on the chest, arms, and legs. These electrodes detect the heart’s electrical signals and transmit them through wires to the ECG machine.
The machine then processes these signals and prints them out as a graph or displays them on a screen. Patients are usually asked to lie still and avoid talking during the brief recording period to ensure accurate results. The test is painless, and while some may feel slight discomfort when the adhesive patches are removed, no electricity is sent into the body during the process.