Fitness & Health Guide

When training to become an ECG/EKG technician, there are requirements and certifications one must earn. ECG/EKG classes may be taken to obtain an ECG/EKG certification. ECG/EKG training may open many opportunities for future advancement. ECG/EKG technicians often work side by side with cardiologists. ECG/EKG training classes will address issues such as normal sinus rhythm, tachycardia and bradycardia along with the signs and symptoms which accompany certain heart conditions.

A normal sinus rhythm (NSR) is defined as a regular heartbeat which can range from 60 to 100 beats per minute for adults. In the medical field, this is often charted as 60 BPM (beats per minute). Normal sinus rhythm usually does not vary much in activity. The normal sinus rhythm is the resting point at which the human heart beats.

The normal sinus rhythm for infants is different than that of an adults. Typically, an infants heartbeat can range from 120 to 160 beats per minute. Again, this is the normal range for infants during a resting point. In pediatrics, the heart rate for children begin to slow around 6 years of age and will gradually decrease with age until adulthood is reached.

It is possible for the human heart rate to elevate during exercise, strenuous activities and in times of stress. Body temperature, body size, air temperature and the position a person may be in whether sitting or standing. Certain medications may also influence normal sinus rhythm, speeding it up or slowing it down depending on the medication.

To see what a heart rate is, an ECG/EKG technician may hook the patient up to a monitor, or EKG machine. Another common method to measure heart rate is by checking pulse. The EKG/ECG technician will take the patients pulse, usually on the wrist of the patient, for 15 seconds and count how many beats occur in those 15 seconds, then multiply the number by 4.

An usually high or low heart rate may be indicative of an underlying health condition. Bradycardia is a heart condition where the resting heart rate is below 60 beats per minute. Tachycardia is a heart condition with heart rates above 60 beats per minute. In either condition, the heart rate is consistent, whether it be too slow or too fast.

Should an individual experience dizziness, shortness of breath, irregular heart rhythms such as palpitations or chest pains. Fainting, also known as syncope, can be another indication of heart problems. Trained ECG/EKG technicians should pay close attention to any signs of irregular sinus rhythm.

Normal sinus rhythm is usually recorded into a patient’s chart during a physical exam or a wellness check up. Patients experiencing an irregular sinus rhythm may not have any accompanying symptoms. Accuracy is always very important when taking and recording vital signs.