Used to measure the heart’s electrical activity, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is a non-invasive but highly effective way of detecting heart abnormalities.

Abnormal ECG results can occur for a large number of reasons. Sometimes an ECG abnormality is a harmless and normal variation of a heart’s rhythm. However, other times an abnormal ECG can be a medical emergency, signifying a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or a dangerous arrhythmia.

It’s extremely important that healthcare professionals can accurately decipher the results of a patient’s ECG so that the correct treatment pathway can be administered.


What else might an abnormal ECG indicate?

ECGs measure various aspects of the heart’s function, therefore the results can indicate several issues as well as potential heart attacks. These include:


Defects or abnormalities in the heart’s shape and size

An abnormal ECG can indicate an enlargement in the walls of the heart. This may point towards heart failure, or the fact that the heart is working much harder than it should.


Electrolyte imbalances

Electrolytes are electricity-conducting particles in the body that help keep the heart muscle beating in rhythm. Magnesium, calcium and potassium are electrolytes. If these electrolytes are imbalanced, an abnormal ECG result may occur.


Heart rate abnormalities

A normal human heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). ECGs can determine if the heart is beating too fast or too slow.


Heart rhythm abnormalities

The heart should be beating in a steady, regular rhythm. An abnormal ECG can show that the heart is beating out of rhythm or sequence.


Medication side effects

Some medications can affect the heart’s rate and rhythm. These can include beta-blockers, sodium channel blockers, and calcium channel blockers, and may lead to an abnormal ECG result.


Looking to discover more about the basics of ECGs?

You may well find our flexible, informative online course The ABC of ECGs useful.

Aimed specifically at Nurse Practitioners, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and other Allied Health Professionals, this one-day course provides community-based practitioners with a practical step-by-step review of ECG interpretation. The emphasis is on understanding the basis of ECG interpretation, clinical pearls and potentially life-threatening problems.

Worth 8 hours of CPD, it’s the ideal opportunity to learn from an experienced professional who’s top of their field, building your confidence around ECG exams and what the results mean.

This is a particularly popular course though, so it’s well worth securing your place early.