EKG

Taos Whole Health offers in-house electrocardiogram (EKG) services. An EKG is a simple and painless procedure that measures electrical signals in the heart and provides a 30 second snapshot of a patient's heart activity. Each time the heart beats, an electrical signal is produced. An EKG can determine if a heart is beating at a normal rate and strength. It also helps show the size and position of the heart's chambers. An abnormal EKG can be a sign of heart disease or damage. This service can be used for non-life threatening symptoms, pre-op physical requirements, and acute monitoring.

During the EKG patients lie on the exam table, where a health care provider will place several electrodes (small sensors that stick to the skin) on the arms, legs, and chest. The electrodes are attached by wires to a computer that records the heart's electrical activity. In total, the procedure only takes about three minutes. Patients don’t require any special preparations for an EKG test.

An EKG is an extremely safe procedure. Individuals may feel slight discomfort or skin irritation after the electrodes are removed. There is no risk of electric shock, as an EKG does not send any electricity to the body, it merely records it.