Heart Beat Archives

Are my palpitations a cause for concern?Ask Hanna

Palpitations are the unpleasant and sometimes alarming sensations of rapid, irregular or forceful beating of the heart. The term “palpitations” is fairly non-specific since it can refer to a number of different types of disturbances of the heart’s normal “rhythm”. …

Are my palpitations a cause for concern?

What does or doesn’t an electrocardiogram say?Ask Hanna

Last week’s Health Tip discussed the usefulness of the EKG, a highly important test used in the diagnosis and management of heart disease. Like most clinical tests, however, the EKG is not perfect. Some of the ways in which the …

What does or doesn’t an electrocardiogram say?

Why do I need an electrocardiogram?Ask Hanna

The electrocardiogram, also called an EKG or ECG, is a test that records electrical activity within the heart. With each heartbeat, an electrical signal is conducted through specialized nerves from the upper to lower chambers of the heart. This causes …