Among the most commonly used and important diagnostic tools we certainly find the electrocardiographs and the Holter ECGs.
Both, but in different ways,they are instruments that are used to record the electrical activity of the heart and therefore verify its correct functioning.
There are many models of both devices on the market,from the simplest to the most sophisticated.
We will now see what the peculiarities of each are and which elements to take most into consideration in their choice.
The Electrocardiograph
The electrocardiograph is a necessary instrument for carrying out a particular diagnostic test calledelectrocardiogram, which allows you to record the electrical activity of the heart by reproducing it graphically.
The graphic layout produced, which can be paper or digital,it is called ECG tracing and usually has a characteristic trend that presents variations as soon as problems or anomalies are found.
The device is equipped with recording voltmeter and electrical wires,which connect the device via ten suction cup electrodes applied to the patient's skin in the heart area.
The electrodes are able to detect infinitesimal variations in voltage in the myocardial tissue (in the order of decimals of a milliVolt).
Through a monitor the doctor can viewgraphically the trace generated by the impulses that the electrodes detect in the patient.
The electrocardiogram can be performed on a patient at rest, who is lying down on a table, or even under stress,while for example pedal on an exercise bike or walk on a treadmill.
The path is composed of different strokes which are repeated at every cardiac cycle and which are called waves, each named with a letter from P to T.
The P wave is the first to be generated,represents the activation of the atria and is of small magnitude.
The T wave instead indicates the recovery of the cardiac ventricles and if it increases in amplitude it can indicate the presence of a myocardial infarction.In the middle, the complex of QRS waves indicates the spread of the electrical stimulus of the ventricles.
The Holter ECG
The Holter ECG, also defined as Dynamic Holter ECG,it is a portable device of very small dimensions to connect to the skin via electrical wires and special adhesive plates positioned on the patient's chest.
These platelets record the electrical activity generated by the heart and transmit it to the device which stores it in memory.It is therefore a device that allows you to store all the heartbeats of a patient usually in the span of 24 hours.
The Holter ECG actually performs a special electrocardiogram over a 24-hour period,allowing the patient to carry out his daily activities normally without limitations, with the sole care of not allowing the platelets to detach from the skin.
If the patient feels any discomfort,via a button you can report it to the device: everything will be promptly recorded and then, once detached from the body,will be processed by another machine.
Analysis of the heartbeat over a 24-hour period allows the doctor to verify the presence of a heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) or an insufficient blood supply to the heart (ischemia),to be combined with any symptoms felt by the patient during the day the device was applied.
The presence of cardiac arrhythmias is quite widespread and can also concern people with a healthy heart from an anatomical and functional point of view, even athletes, for example,or it may have psychological causes, with an acceleration of the heartbeat (tachycardia) due to anxiety syndromes.
The Holter ECG is able to detect the presence of all tachycardias, recording type, duration,frequency or possible correlation with an event that occurred during the day, such as the taking of a certain drug.
Precisely with regard to drugs, a dynamic Holter electrocardiogram proves to be very useful in the case of pharmacological treatments for an arrhythmia,allowing its effectiveness to be verified.
Difference between electrocardiograph and holter ECG
Fundamentally, the main difference between electrocardiographs and Holter ECGs is represented by the time taken for detection.
The electrocardiograph, in fact,it is a permanent device, which can be of different dimensions, clearly, but still to be placed in a specific room, whether it is a doctor's office,a hospital or diagnostic center.
The electrocardiograph does allow to detect cardiac activity both at rest and under stress (as happens for example in medical-sports visits) but the detection obviously concerns only the period of time in which the patient is undergoing the electrocardiogram,and therefore generally no more than a few minutes.The doctor, in turn, follows the evolution of the detection practically in real time.
The Holter ECG, however, allows the doctor to collect the same type of information on the patient's cardiac situation, but does so over a larger time frame,which ranges from 24 to 48 hours or even more, depending on the type of survey you want to carry out.
The holter ECG is by its very definition a portable device, which can be connected to the patient and can move with him,allowing him to live his day in an absolutely normal way,while the device records all cardiac activity on a card.
This card is then extracted from the device and connected to a more advanced machine capable of reading all the data collected.
This is not only a difference in usage time between the two machines,but also of a different form of measurement, just as the number of electrodes to be applied to the patient is different.
For the electrocardiograph, in fact, 10 electrodes are used,of which 4 to be applied to the ends of the limbs (wrists and ankles) and 6 to be placed on the chest in the heart area.
The Holter ECG instead involves the use of 5 electrodes,to be placed all on the chest in a fairly spaced position: 4 of these are actually positioned at the 4 corners of the chest and only the fifth is applied in the heart area.
What to consider when purchasing an electrocardiograph and an ECG holter
The price of devices such as electrocardiographs or HolterECG can vary greatly depending on the technology they use.
As regards electrocardiographs, a first distinction can be made on whether they are portable or office-based.
In the first case they are ideal for occupational doctors,who need an instrument that is convenient to carry.
The modern electrocardiographs on the market now all have 12 leads.
What can vary, and consequently affect the price, is the number of channels.In this device the electrodes detect the electrical voltage of cardiac activity from different angles, each of which is then displayed as a channel on the ECG printout.
There are therefore devices up to 3 channels and other more sophisticated ones that reach up to 12 channels,and which guarantee a more accurate analysis.
As regards the Holter ECG,it is essential that it can guarantee correct detection for at least 24 hours.
An excellent Holter ECG is then connected to a cloud system that allows you to see the data detected in real time from any device,or software to install on your PC.
Conclusions
We have seen the different functions performed by devices such as electrocardiographs and Holter ECGs.
Both produce a electrocardiogram,but they do it with different modalities and basic conditions of the patient.
Given the complexity of these devices and the delicacy of the task they perform, it is very important to contact a reliable dealer,that can provide quality products.
__KEEP_0__ offers an excellent assortment of traditional electrocardiographs, both desktop and portable, as well as Holter ECG, at really interesting prices.
With over twenty years of experience in the sale of products for medical use,__KEEP_0__ can definitely help you find the best product for your needs.
