Although heart rate can be calculated by taking a pulse, studies show that an electrocardiogram is needed to determine if there is any damage to the heart, how well a device or drug works, or the location and size of it.The electrical activity of the heartbeat can be detected by attaching electrodes to the skin.Experts agree that calculating your heart rate from an electrocardiogram can help determine your health.
Step 1: You should be aware of how a normal wave form looks on an ECG trace.
You can use this to determine the area of the ECG that represents one heart beat.You can calculate the heart rate from the length of a heart beat on the trace.A normal heart beat has a P wave, a QRS complex and an ST segment.The easiest way to calculate heart rate is the QRS complex.The P wave is a semi-circular shape.Two small chambers are located at the top of the heart and represent the electrical activity of atria.The tallest part of the trace is the QRS complex.It's like a tall, thin triangle and very easy to recognize.The two large chambers located at the bottom of the heart that forcefully pump blood throughout the body are referred to as the ventricles.The tall QRS complex is followed by the ST segment.The flat area is prior to the next semi-circular shape on the ECG.The importance of this flat segment is that it provides important information to physicians about potential heart attacks.
Step 2: The complex is named the QRS.
The tallest part of the pattern is the QRS complex.It is a tall and skinny spike for a person with normal heart function.It is an indication that one heart beat has taken place when one of the QRS complexes occurs.The space between the QRS complexes can be used to calculate the heart rate.
Step 3: The space between the complexes should be counted.
The next step is to figure out the number of large squares on the trace to separate the two complexes.The ECG has both small and large squares.Use the large squares as your reference point.Go from the peak of one complex to the next.There are large squares between the two points.The complexes will not land exactly on the squares, so it will be a fractionated number.If you divide a big square into 5 small squares, you can approximate the distance between the complexes to the nearest units.
Step 4: The number 300 should be divided by your answer.
Once you have calculated the number of big squares, you can use it to calculate the heart rate.You can round your answer to the nearest whole number.The heart rate would be 94 beats per minute.A normal heart rate is between 60 to 100 beats per minute.If you know this, you can decide if you are on course with your heart rate calculations.60 to 100 beats per minute is just a guideline.Athletes who are in excellent physical shape have lower resting heart rates.There are diseases that can lead to an unnaturally accelerated heart rate, called pathological tachycardias.If the person you are calculating heart rate for has an abnormal value, speak to a physician.
Step 5: There are two lines on the trace.
The first line should be next to the left-hand side of the paper with the trace, and the second should follow it.There are 30 large squares on an ECG trace.
Step 6: Take the number of complexes between the two lines.
The tallest peak of each wave is the QRS complex.Write down the total number of complexes between your two lines.
Step 7: You have to give an answer by 10.
The "beats per minute" is the standard measurement of heart rate, and if you add 6 seconds x 10 to 60 seconds, you get the number.Your heart rate calculation will give you 80 beats per minute if you count 8 beats in 6 seconds.
Step 8: This method is particularly effective for irregular heart rhythms.
The first method of determining the distance between one and the next is very effective if the heart rate is regular.The 6 second method works better with an irregular heart rate because it averages the distance between heart beats to give a more accurate number.