If your cardiovascular system is being monitored while you are in the hospital, you’ll want to make sure that the staff is using high-quality monitoring electrodes. They can help pick up subtle changes in your heart function better than electrodes of lesser quality. Here are some abnormalities quality electrodes may help reveal.
Sinus Tachycardia
Sinus tachycardia refers to an abnormally fast heartbeat. It can be continuous, but it may also come and go. High-quality monitoring electrodes may pick up isolated or sporadic episodes of tachycardia better than lower-quality electrodes. In addition to the hospital, you may need to wear a special heart monitor at home.
This monitor is called a Holter monitor and it attaches to your chest area with sticky electrodes. You will get more accurate results from your Holter monitor test if your doctor’s office uses high-quality electrodes. Hospitals and doctors’ offices typically purchase cardiac monitoring supplies based on efficacy and budgetary guidelines.
Cardiac Arrhythmia
While normal sinus tachycardia is not something most cardiologists are terribly worried about, other forms of tachycardia such as supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation are concerning. Not only do these conditions cause your heart rate to speed up, but they also cause the heart to beat in an abnormal rhythm.
It is essential that your monitoring device uses quality electrodes so that these problems can be appropriately detected so that you can get treated in a timely manner. If a cardiac arrhythmia is left untreated, you may be at risk for a blood clot, heart attack, or stroke.
