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 GENERAL INFORMATION
The tightening or blockade of the coronary arteries can produce an angina pectoris, an infarction of myocardium or, even, the death. The diagnostic tests try to detect the cardiovascular disease before no serious consequence happens. ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG OR EKG)
It is a very important tool to detect cardiopatías and to point at what level is the difficulty when the heart fails.
The ECG is a graphic representation of the electrical forces that work on the heart. During the cardiac cycle of pumping and filling, a boss known about changeable electrical pulses reflects exactly the action of the heart. These pulses can be gathered across electrodes given to the surface of the body. The activity of the heart represented by typical waves can be evaluated this way instantaneously in a TV monitor or be printed on a graph paper for his later study.
From his invention at the beginning of the XXth century, the ECG has been the useful one more important than the cardiologist. It turns out to be essential in the diagnosis of the cardiac arrhythmias, and can give information about the presence of ancient or recent cardiovascular disease, and of other problems of the heart.
The ECG is painless. There need from 12 to 15 electrodes that stick to the skin of hands, legs and trunk. The process is completed in a few minutes. The most frequent thing is that it is done by the knocked down and calm patient, but also it is a key part of the test of effort.
There exists also a portable version, the record Holter, by means of which it is possible to register the ECG of one during 12 p.m. of the day, what sometimes is of interest very much in certain arrhythmias.
BLOOD TEST
They are done whenever the state of the cardiovascular system wants to be evaluated. There is of interest, between other measurements, the level of entire cholesterol and of his fractions: that of low thickness (LDL or "villain") and that of high thickness (HDL or "good"). Also there are of interest especially the levels of sugar (the diabetes increases the cardiopatía risk) and of thyroid hormones (a hyperactive thyroid gland can produce cardiac anomalies).
RADIOGRAPHY OF THE THORAX
It produces an image, a photo of his heart and blood glasses, and it can be so very useful to detect a big heart and other consequences of cardiac illnesses.
OTHER TESTS
Depending on the initial finds in these basic tests, it is possible that it is indicated to realize other more sophisticated, such tests as:
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