EKG strip charts contain a graph that represents the passage of time (vertically) and the voltage detected by each lead (horizontally). Each cycle of the heart normally appears as two small bumps with a large peak in between, and a small dip just before the peak. A simple calculation can determine if the heart rate is regular, and the relative positions of the elements of each heartbeat tell the doctor if the heart muscle is beating in a normal fashion. If these patterns are appearing irregularly over time or show any deformities, this can indicate the possibility of specific heart problems.

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