Urgent Care with EKG Services in Katy, TX

What is an EKG?

A vital simple medical test that captures the electrical rhythm of your heart is an EKG. This straightforward and painless technique gives you comprehensive information on the condition and operation of your heart, including whether you have any cardiac conditions and the effects of any medicines or cardiac-regulating devices.

What Does an EKG Measure?

In our practice, we use the EKG to measure the electrical signals that travel through your heart. This test provides valuable information about your heart rate, rhythm, electrical conduction, size, and shape. The recorded data can reveal abnormalities like arrhythmias, enlarged heart structures, reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, and even heart attacks.

When Do We Recommend an EKG?

At Memorial Health Urgent Care and Infusions, we have suggested when there is shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or fainting. We also use it for monitoring heart conditions like arrhythmias, heart failure, high blood pressure, or heart disease, and before or after heart surgery.

EKG Procedure at Memorial Health Urgent Care and Infusions

Our skilled healthcare professionals perform the EKG by attaching 10 electrodes to your chest, arms, and legs. This procedure, taking less than 10 minutes, provides us with essential information about your heart’s electrical activity and overall health.

At our medical practice, we often use EKGs to check for signs of heart disease, especially in patients with a family history of heart disease or other risk factors such as smoking, obesity, or high blood pressure.

During hospitalization or surgical procedures, we use EKGs to monitor the health of the patient’s heart. EKGs also help us to monitor the heart’s electrical activity and its proper functioning during cardiac surgery or intensive care.

EKGs also play a crucial role at Memorial Health Urgent Care and Infusions in detecting changes that may suggest areas of reduced blood flow or heart muscle damage, such as in coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction. They help us to determine if the walls of the heart chambers are too thick and if the heart is pumping blood effectively.

In addition to these primary uses, we also use EKGs to detect underlying conditions such as electrolyte imbalances and lung diseases. They are also crucial in monitoring the effectiveness of heart medications or assessing the function of mechanical devices implanted in the heart, such as pacemakers.

At Memorial Health Urgent Care and Infusions, we recommend EKGs as part of routine health checkups and pre-operative assessments to establish a baseline and screen for potential cardiac issues. Furthermore, they assist us in assessing the response to treatment and guiding appropriate treatment strategies for cardiac conditions.

Understanding Your Health Status:

Before you come in for your EKG test, make sure you understand your current health status and medical history. This includes informing us about any symptoms you’ve been experiencing as well as any previous heart problems, surgeries, or other medical conditions.

Appropriate Attire and Jewelry Removal:

Dress comfortably for your EKG test. Your clothing should be loose and easy to remove or roll up, as our technicians will need to place electrodes on your chest, arms, and legs.

Dietary Restrictions and Hydration:

There are usually no dietary restrictions for an EKG. However, avoid cold or caffeinated beverages and alcohol for several hours before the test. We recommend being well-hydrated before the test to ensure clear conduction of electrical signals in the heart.

Avoid Exercise and Rest Well:

Make sure you are well rested and refrain from intense exertion for at least half an hour before the test. Exercise can alter your heart’s electrical signals, making the results more difficult to interpret. Your heart rate can be stabilized with a restful night’s sleep.

On the Day of the Test:

Avoid applying lotions or creams to your skin before the test, as these can interfere with the electrodes. Please arrive on time and let our technician know if you have any concerns or discomfort. The EKG will typically take a few minutes to complete, so try to remain still during the test.

Our dedicated team of medical professionals uses the EKG to analyze your heart’s rhythm to detect any irregularities, such as arrhythmia. This may indicate heart conditions like bradycardia (slow heart rate), tachycardia (fast heart rate), or conduction disorders, which require immediate medical attention.

Furthermore, an EKG also allows us to identify disruptions in your heart’s electrical activity, which can be influenced by electrolyte imbalances such as low potassium or calcium. Our team is skilled at quickly identifying and correcting these imbalances to restore normal heart function.

EKG testing at Memorial Health Urgent Care and Infusions also provides information about the size and position of your heart chambers. If your heart chambers are enlarged, it could indicate conditions like high blood pressure or other heart diseases that we can help manage.

Another key benefit of having an EKG at our clinic is the ability to detect heart attacks or any past heart attacks. Our team can identify specific changes in the EKG waveform, such as ST-segment and T-wave abnormalities, which suggest a heart attack or reduced blood flow to the heart. This allows for immediate medical intervention, which can prevent further cardiac damage.

Experience high-quality urgent care with advanced EKG services in Katy, TX, designed to provide precise heart health evaluations. Our compassionate team is committed to delivering fast and effective diagnostics tailored to your needs. Visit Memorial Health Urgent Care and Infusions for a thorough assessment from our skilled doctors. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 26077 Nelson Way, Katy, TX, 77494. We deal with patients from Brookshire TX, Park Row TX, Cinco Ranch TX, Houston TX, Cypress TX, and surrounding areas.