ECG / TMT

An electrocardiogram is used to check your heart rate. Each beat of your heart is triggered by an electrical impulse usually generated from special cells in the upper right chamber of heart. An electrocardiogram — also called an ECG or EKG — records these electrical signals as they travel through your heart. Your doctor can use an electrocardiogram to look for patterns among these heartbeats and rhythms to detect different heart conditions.

An electrocardiogram is a noninvasive, painless test. The results of your electrocardiogram will likely be reported the same day it’s performed, and your doctor will discuss them with you at your next appointment.

Cardiac Stress Test or Treadmill Test (TMT) is a test used in Medicine and Cardiology to measure the Heart’s ability to respond to external Stress in a controlled clinical environment.

The cardiac stress test is done with heart stimulation, either by exercise on a treadmill, pedaling a stationary exercise bicycle ergometer or with intravenous pharmacological stimulation, with the patient connected to an Electrocardiogram (or ECG).

The level of mechanical stress is progressively increased by adjusting the difficulty (steepness of the slope) and speed. The test administrator or attending physician examines the symptoms and blood pressure response. The test is most commonly referred to as cardiac stress test, but other names include exercise testing, stress testing treadmills, exercise tolerance test, stress test or stress test ECG.

The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a diagnostic tool that is routinely used to assess the electrical and muscular functions of the heart. While it is a relatively simple test to perform, the interpretation of the ECG tracing requires significant amounts of training. It records the electrical activity of your heart at rest. It provides information about your heart rate and rhythm, and shows if there is enlargement of the heart due to high blood pressure (hypertension) or evidence of a previous heart attack (myocardial infarction). However, it does not show whether you have asymptomatic blockages in your heart arteries or predict your risk of a future heart attack.