What problems can a dynamic electrocardiogram (ECG) detect?
Generally, ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter monitoring) can detect arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, atrioventricular block, pre-excitation syndrome, silent myocardial infarction, and other issues. If discomfort occurs, timely consultation and treatment at a regular hospital are recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Arrhythmias
Ambulatory electrocardiography continuously records cardiac electrical activity over 24 hours or longer, capturing brief or paroxysmal arrhythmias such as premature beats, tachycardia, bradycardia, etc. Conventional electrocardiography (ECG) may miss abnormal signals due to its short duration, whereas ambulatory ECG provides a more comprehensive record of cardiac rhythm changes, thus offering a basis for diagnosis.
Myocardial ischemia often presents paroxysmally, especially during physical activity or emotional fluctuations. Ambulatory ECG, combined with the patient's daily activity records, can detect ST-T segment changes associated with physical activity. These changes suggest possible myocardial ischemia and aid in diagnosing diseases such as coronary artery disease.
3. Atrioventricular Block
Patients with atrioventricular block may intermittently exhibit abnormal electrocardiographic signals. Ambulatory ECG continuously monitors cardiac electrical conduction, accurately recording the timing, frequency, and severity of blocks. This information helps determine the type and severity of the block and provides reference for treatment planning.
4. Pre-excitation Syndrome
Patients with pre-excitation syndrome often experience paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with unpredictable episodes. Ambulatory ECG can capture the characteristic ECG features of pre-excitation waves and tachycardia episodes.
5. Silent Myocardial Infarction
Some patients with myocardial infarction do not exhibit significant chest pain symptoms and may overlook them. Ambulatory ECG can detect characteristic ECG changes indicative of myocardial infarction. Even without subjective symptoms, it allows early diagnosis and treatment, reducing the risk of severe consequences.
In addition, ambulatory ECG can also detect other cardiac problems such as myocardial hypertrophy. During ambulatory ECG monitoring, patients should avoid strenuous exercise to prevent electrode detachment and maintain normal daily activities to obtain more accurate monitoring results. If discomfort occurs during the monitoring period, detailed records of the time and symptoms should be made to facilitate physicians in analyzing the data in combination with ECG findings.
