What are the Benefits of Having an EKG at Urgent Care Centers?
What Is an EKG?
An electrocardiogram (EKG) test in Houston is a means for monitoring the electrical activity of the heart over a period. The test allows doctors to check the state of your heart by recording the electrical signals from your heart.
How Do EKGs Work?
You only need to lie down and remain still as the test begins. You should be able to breathe normally while sitting still. However, you cannot move or shake as the test continues, as it may distort the results of your test. You will not need to be still for a long time, as the test lasts for a few minutes.
Your doctor will place electrodes on your chests, which pick up on the signals that cause your heart to beat rhythmically. Usually, about 12 electrodes with wires linked to a computer and sticky patches are necessary for the test. The doctor will place them accordingly on your chest, and the electrodes pick up on the signals from your heart. The computer will then translate them to waves on the monitor and even on paper.
Where Are EKG Tests Done?
The EKG machines are standard equipment that you will find in all ambulances and operating rooms. Besides, EKG tests can be done in any hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office. It means that you can access walk-in EKG testing in any hospital or clinic for urgent care near you.
Reasons Why Doctors Take an EKG
If your doctor in urgent care near you recommends an EKG test, it will be to meet one of the following three needs:
- Check for any irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias) and the general state of your heart’s health.
- Identify the cause of chest pain, including those related to coronary artery disease, heart attacks, or hypertensive conditions.
- Evaluate the symptoms you are exhibiting and how they affect your heart health.
- Monitor the heart during surgeries, especially when you are under general anesthesia.
- Check the progress of heart-related treatment – especially among patients with pacemakers.
When Do You Need EKG Tests?
It is not every day that our doctors at Sunrise Urgent Care Center will recommend EKG tests for patients. According to American Heart Association, an EKG test is unnecessary for healthy patients. EKG tests work best when patients have alarming or concerning problems that would necessitate evaluating the state of their heart. Some of the symptoms that may cause you to need an EKG test are:
- Severe chest pains
- Rapid heartbeat
- Skipping a beat
- Shortness of breath and a general difficulty in breathing well
- A deteriorating ability to exercise and move around with ease.
- Dizziness, light-headedness, and loss of balance.
- Hypertensive conditions
Urgent care with EKG services is also necessary for patients with family histories of heart problems. During screening tests, a doctor may recommend occasional EKG tests as a preventive measure to get ahead of any health problems that may run in your bloodline.
Is an EKG Test Safe?
Just because electricity is mentioned in the definition of EKG does not mean you should anticipate any electric shock. Ideally, the electrodes of the EKG test do not generate any electricity that would cause electric shock. Instead, they pick up on the electric activity of your heart. It means that an EKG test is both safe and non-invasive. No surgery or pain is involved during the test. The only thing you should anticipate is discomfort when the doctor removes the electrodes from your chest, which will feel like ripping off a bandage from your skin.
Is The Test Expensive?
An urgent care electrocardiogram cost will average around $1,500, with prices differing from one location to another. The good thing is that most insurance companies cover such costs, so you will not have to part with a lot of out-of-pocket cash.
Summary
An EKG test will not point out the nature of your health problem. The test is only useful for determining any anomalies in the state of your health. Should your test show any abnormalities, your doctor will perform additional tests that can narrow down to the correct diagnosis of your problem before starting treatment.