What Your EKG Results Really Mean

An EKG may last only a few minutes, but it captures a highly detailed snapshot of your heart’s electrical activity, beat by beat. At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, our team provides exceptional cardiology care. 

Your provider may recommend an EKG as part of routine screening, or when you experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness. We perform EKGs here on-site — no hospital trip, no extra scheduling.

What an EKG measures

An EKG (electrocardiogram) records the electrical activity that coordinates each heartbeat. With every contraction, a specific electrical pattern travels through the heart’s chambers. Electrodes placed on the chest, arms, and legs detect these signals and create the familiar waveform.

Instead of offering a single snapshot, an EKG captures how well the heart conducts electricity with each beat. Dr. Terzian looks for any changes in the heart’s rhythm, timing, or pattern. An EKG can show even small shifts that may indicate irregular heart rhythms, evidence of prior heart injury, strain on the heart muscle, or problems with the conduction pathways.

Understanding the numbers and waves

Every wave on the EKG tracing corresponds to a different step in the heartbeat, from the electrical spark that starts the beat to the moment the heart resets for the next one. Irregularities in these segments can point toward conditions such as atrial fibrillation, conduction delays, or early signs of coronary artery disease. 

Many patients are surprised to learn just how much information those few seconds of recording can capture. At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, our board-certified cardiologist, John Terzian, MD, FACC, personally reviews every test. 

His long-standing expertise allows him to distinguish variations from findings that deserve closer attention. This can be especially reassuring when we perform an EKG for symptoms such as palpitations, fatigue, chest discomfort, or shortness of breath.

On-site EKG testing for convenience and accuracy

EKGs are performed on-site in our fully certified cardiovascular laboratory, which allows patients to receive testing and interpretation in the same visit. There’s no need to travel elsewhere for basic cardiac evaluation, and results are available immediately. 

For many people, this prevents delays in care and eliminates the uncertainty of waiting for outside reports. Our cardiovascular lab performs a range of diagnostic studies, including stress testing, vascular testing, and pulse volume recording. 

The technicians who administer these tests work closely with Dr. Terzian. This collaboration helps ensure that every tracing is of high quality and that our team can make clinical decisions promptly.

When there may be more to the story

An EKG is a powerful tool, but it’s not the only one. Sometimes an abnormal result simply reflects temporary factors such as electrolyte changes, stress, or medication effects. Other times, a normal EKG does not rule out early coronary artery disease or structural heart issues.

If findings need clarification, Dr. Terzian may recommend additional testing such as a stress test, vascular evaluation, or further cardiac monitoring. Because we perform these studies onsite, you receive cohesive, streamlined care without being referred to multiple facilities.

Why having insight into your EKG matters

An EKG is a valuable tool for assessing your cardiovascular health. It can keep you informed when you’re managing high blood pressure, monitoring risk factors like diabetes or high cholesterol, or evaluating new symptoms.

If you’ve recently had an EKG or need one interpreted, our team is here to guide you. Contact Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, today to schedule an appointment, or book online for timely, expert cardiac care close to home.