Pathologies associated with the work of the heart and blood vessels have recently been encountered most often, regardless of age group. And those people who are assigned to study the main organ in the human body have questions: "What is better than an ultrasound or ECG of the heart?", "What do they show and in what cases are prescribed?" Compare these procedures in order to understand which method is better, whether it is possible to limit ourselves to just one study and what is the difference between these methods. To do this, consider them in more detail.
Features of the electrocardiogram of the heart
Most often, during the initial examination, an ECG is prescribed. Also, the study is shown for persons 40+ during the annual medical examination. Using the technique, you can identify the slightest malfunctions in the work of the body. Where to make an ECG? This can be done in any public or private clinic. The study is completely painless and does not last long.
For the study, the patient assumes a prone position (with severe shortness of breath, it can also be carried out in a sitting position). To the upper and lower extremities, as well as in the region of the heart, special sensors are connected, which will display readings in the form of a graph-cardiogram. Further, these indicators are deciphered by the attending physician.
In what cases is an ECG prescribed?
The algorithm for ECG removal is quite simple. The procedure takes no more than five minutes, the result will be ready immediately. The technique is often used by ambulance or emergency personnel on a portable electrocardiograph. The main advantage of the study is the instant result.
Indications for ECG:
- hypertension or hypotension;
- suspected myocardial infarction;
- angina pectoris;
- heart disease (congenital or acquired);
- coronary artery disease;
- post-infarction condition;
- heart failure;
- pregnancy;
- preparation for surgery.
An ECG is also performed regularly for any heart surgery. A technique may also be prescribed for other diseases, for example, violations in the endocrine system. There are also certain symptoms indicating problems in the area of the heart. It includes fatigue, shortness of breath, burning in the stomach.
What diseases can be detected by ECG?
In order to understand what is better than an ultrasound or ECG of the heart, it is worthwhile to figure out which pathologies can be detected by one or another method.
Using an electrocardiogram, you can detect:
- heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmia, tachycardia, bradycardia);
- a violation in the nutrition of the myocardium (heart attack, coronary heart disease);
- displacement of the heart axis;
- whether pulses are conducted correctly;
- myocardial thickening with hypertrophy of the ventricles and atria;
- heart disease.
The study quite effectively identifies pathologies even in the initial stages, which allows you to choose the appropriate therapy. To clarify the diagnosis or obtain clearer indicators, an ultrasound of the heart is performed after an ECG.
ECG contraindications
There are no contraindications for ECG, the study is carried out even for newborn babies. But sometimes the examination can be complicated by too much weight or damage to the chest. Also, an inserted pacemaker can significantly distort the readings.
For an electrocardiogram with a load, there are such contraindications:
- chronic heart failure;
- suspected aortic aneurysm;
- myocardial infarction.
Transfacial electrocardiography is not used for those who have diseases of the esophagus.
What is heart ultrasound and how is it performed?
Ultrasound of the vessels of the heart or echocardiography is a diagnostic method using ultrasonic waves. The image of the organ and the details of its structure are displayed on the monitor.
The study is conducted in a prone position, on the left side. This allows you to maximize the top of the organ and the left side of the sternum for clear and good visualization. In this case, all four cameras of the heart will be visible on the monitor.
The ultrasound machine is equipped with sensors that are processed with a special gel and attached to the human body. High-frequency sound passes through the sensors into the tissues and walls of the organ and displays data on the monitor screen. The diagnosis decodes the obtained indicators and passes the result to the doctor, who determines the final diagnosis.
When is an ultrasound of the heart prescribed?
To understand what is better than an ultrasound or ECG of the heart, you need to know what symptoms or diseases each study is prescribed for. The fact is that when carrying out these techniques, different equipment is used that has certain characteristics.
Indications for ultrasound of the heart:
- detected noise while listening to the heart;
- intraventricular failure;
- heart attack;
- recurring cases of loss of consciousness or frequent dizziness;
- shortness of breath, general weakness;
- coronary heart disease in the acute or chronic period;
- injuries in the sternum;
- painful sensations of incomprehensible etiology;
- aortic aneurysm;
- thrombosis.
With a heart attack, an ECG and ultrasound are performed. But the latter option allows you to clearly determine the place and prescribe a more accurate therapy. Sometimes patients complain of persistent and severe migraines. In this case, an ultrasound of the heart is also prescribed.
Ultrasound is also prescribed as a prophylaxis, for example, to professional athletes who focus on the heart. Pregnant women need to undergo a procedure in order to identify possible pathologies in the work of the heart, which can be a contraindication to natural delivery.
Pathologies that can be detected by ultrasound
Using ultrasound of the heart, which can be performed, for example, at the Bakulev Cardiology Center in Moscow, various pathological conditions can be detected.
Having done an EchoCG, you can detect:
- hidden heart defects;
- violation of the integrity of the inner and outer shells of the main organ;
- pathological changes during contraction;
- pre-infarction condition;
- inflammatory processes in the heart;
- spinosis, thrombosis, rheumatism, hypertension;
- accumulation of fluid in the cavity of the heart;
- determination of the nature and speed of blood flow.
In addition, with the help of ultrasound it is possible to assess whether there is a therapeutic effect during a certain therapy. There are no contraindications to ultrasound.
Comparison of ECG and ultrasound of the heart: what is common and what is the difference between the procedures
Both methods are similar in that they are safe, painless and can be used by patients from birth, since they do not harm the body. In addition, there are practically no contraindications to this or that method.
What is the difference between an ECG and an ultrasound of the heart:
- When conducting research, different equipment is used. When conducting an ECG - a cardiograph and electrodes, ultrasound - an ultrasonic sensor.
- When conducting an electrocardiogram, the results are visible on the graph, ultrasound displays the image of the entire organ and its ducts as an integral picture.
- The timing of the procedures is different. An ECG is performed to obtain an instant result for up to five minutes. Ultrasound can last from half an hour to an hour.
- The purpose of the methods. An ECG test determines the activity of cardiac tissues, which an ultrasound machine cannot do. An ultrasound can then determine the presence of anatomical features of the organ and its nearby tissues.
- With the help of ultrasound, a heart defect can be detected, and the ECG determines how the heart muscle works in this pathology.
Despite the fact that these methods are different, they are successfully used in cardiology and can even complement each other.
Which examination is best for whom and when?
Both methods are highly informative and give a different vision of the heart. Therefore, it is impossible to say that it is better to do an ultrasound or ECG of the heart. Often these studies are complementary. Only a cardiologist determines the research method, based on the corresponding symptoms. Most often, an electrocardiogram is prescribed first, because it allows the doctor to evaluate the work of the heart. You can clarify the diagnosis using ultrasound.
Regardless of the study, both ultrasound and ECG are considered the main methods that help determine the work of the heart and none of them is useless. Since the techniques are different, they can complement and interchange each other.
Which examination is best done in certain cases?
- For the purpose of prevention, an ECG is prescribed during professional examinations.
- Ultrasound is prescribed only by a cardiologist in the presence of serious abnormalities identified on the electrocardiogram.
- ECG is performed in all public hospitals, ultrasound - only in private clinics.
- If the patient’s symptoms do not correspond to the revealed pathologies on the electrocardiogram, an ultrasound is prescribed.
- The final diagnosis is made by a cardiologist only when comparing the indicators of both of these methods.
- Ultrasound is prescribed to children, starting from birth, as well as pregnant women, since it is a more informative study.
- If the patient can only have a pacemaker with an ultrasound scan, the data on the cardiogram will be distorted.
In general, in cardiology, both of these methods are used, since they allow you to evaluate the work of the heart from different angles and according to different criteria.