If you have ever had an electrocardiogram test performed,
you know how quick and easy of a test it
is. It wasn’t always this way however.
The EKG machine has
evolved for over 100 years from a revolutionary
(yet primitive) machine to the technological
miracle that it is today. Read on for a
brief history of the EKG
machine.
EKG machines have come along time since
the 1800’s. Back in the day they used
to be huge immobile machines used to measure
heart signals. Now, they are small and lightweight,
and can be transferred easily.
EKG machines use electrodes that are attached
to your body to measure your heart signals
and detect signs of trouble. When EKG machines
were first invented, electrodes were not
used. Instead, patients were required to
place their hands and feet into sodium chloride
baths, a conductive method for the faint
electric impulses found in the heart. Later,
electrical wires were used to transmit heart
signals to the machine; eventually the electrodes
we use now replaced these wires.
Today most patients lie on an examination
table for their EKG exams. If you look at
photographs from the late 1800s, the patients
look as though they are strapped into an
electric chair. Modern
methods have made the procedure much
more simple, safe, comfortable and accurate.
Some doctors prefer that patients perform
a stress test. This occurs when the electrodes
are attached while the patient is performing
moderate exercise. Some patients may be
asked to ride a stationary bike or walk
on a treadmill. Exercising while attached
to the EKG
machine may often give the technician or
your doctor a better understanding of your
heart-function pattern during physical strain.
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