#Definition of cardiograph how to

You cannot eat or drink for several hours before a TEE. This tube goes through the mouth and down into the esophagus. In this type of echo, the ultrasound device is placed at the end of a thin, flexible tube. However, if you are having an uncommon test called a transesophageal echo (TEE), guidance is different. You usually do not need to restrict your food or drink intake before your EKG or echo. Ask how much of the cost you will have to pay out of pocket.Įating and drinking. If you are concerned about the cost of your EKG or echo, find out from your insurance provider what costs it will cover beforehand. Ask whether you should take them on the day of the test because some medicines can affect the results. Before having an EKG or echo, tell your health care team about all the medications you take. Be ready to talk about the following topics:

#Definition of cardiograph how to

When you schedule an EKG or echo, the office or hospital staff will tell you how to prepare. A doctor then reviews the test results and decides what they mean. Sonographers, who are specially trained to use ultrasound machines, often perform an echo. Nurses or medical technicians often perform an EKG. These tests are done at a doctor's office or at a hospital. You may need an echo before, during, or after cancer treatment to check for: Like an EKG, the test is painless and not invasive. A wand-like device called a transducer sends out sound waves. Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to take a picture of organs inside the body. It records the electrical activity of the heart as wavy lines on a piece of paper.Ĭhanges in the thickness of the muscle in the heart chamber wallsĬhemical or electrolyte imbalances in the bodyĪn echo is an ultrasound of your heart. How does an EKG work?Īn EKG is a painless test that checks your heart’s function without being invasive. Learn more about heart problems from cancer treatment. But the heart damage is often mild and can only be seen on an echo. People with CHF may have swollen hands and feet, shortness of breath, dizziness, and an irregular heartbeat. CHF occurs when the heart does not pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Sometimes, heart damage from these drugs cause a condition called congestive heart failure (CHF). Other drugs used to treat cancer, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), can also cause heart problems. They include daunorubicin (Cerubidine, Rubidomycin), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and epirubicin (Ellence). Some types of chemotherapy, such as anthracyclines, may damage the heart during cancer treatment. People who have had certain types of chemotherapy.

People who had a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. People who had radiation therapy to the chest. People who may need an EKG and/or echo after cancer treatment include: Long-term side effects related to the heart, or late effects, may occur months or years after treatment. They can include cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a cardiac stress test, or a multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan.ĭoctor may also use an EKG and/or echo during and after cancer treatment to look for possible heart damage caused by cancer treatment. Some people may need other heart tests, too. You may need 1 or both of these tests before starting some cancer treatments, like certain chemotherapy or a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) and an echocardiogram (echo) are tests that help find problems with the heart muscle, valves, or rhythm.