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Cardiac Telemetry

What Is Cardiac Telemetry?

human heart pumps around one million barrels of blood through the body with about 100,000 heartbeats per day which equates to about 2.5 billion in a lifetime. It is crucial to take care of the most vital organ in our body.

Cardiac telemetry monitoring can help you detect any malfunctions with your heart. Telemetry is an automated system that collects data and transmits it to the monitoring equipment. Healthcare practitioners have used this technology to monitor heart patients for a very long time.

Keep reading to know more about this incredible technology and how it may benefit you or your loved ones in the future.

Why You Might Need Heart Telemetry Monitors

If you have experienced any of the health concerns listed below, please consult a doctor. Based on your condition and medical history, they may recommend telemetry monitoring. 

  1. You have had a heart attack, are experiencing chest discomfort, or have an irregular heartbeat.
  2. You underwent surgery that used anesthesia or sedation.
  3. You have a lung condition issue, including blood clotting or fluid accumulation around the organ.
  4. You are under medications to control your heart rate.
  5. You had a stroke in the recent past or are suffering from kidney failure.
  6. You were hurt badly and went in shock.

Benefits of Cardiac Telemetry Monitoring

Early Diagnosis

Like any other type of heart health and function monitoring, this technology has the ability to detect heart abnormalities early on. Early detection of curable cardiac issues can save a life. Read the two examples below to learn more.

Arrhythmia Heart:

When you have an abnormal heartbeat, you may have an arrhythmia. This condition can occasionally happen, though it is not a cause for alarm. However, doctors can use this monitoring system to look for unusual trends suggesting a major cardiac disease or another underlying illness.

For example, atrial fibrillation happens when the heart beats irregularly and excessively. This form of arrhythmia demands rapid care. If left untreated, it can cause severe cardiac failure or stroke.

The telemetry monitor can detect ventricular fibrillation as well. This irregular heartbeat pattern arises when disorderly electrical signals cause the ventricles to shiver rapidly, resulting in abrupt cardiac arrest. As such, early identification is crucial.

Infarction Myocardial:

A myocardial infarction, also known as a common heart attack, is a sudden blood flow restriction to the heart. The tissues in your heart can die out quickly without new blood circulation. This disrupts circulation throughout the body and can lead to tissue death. The harm is irreversible once tissue degeneration has already occurred.

Discomfort Detection

Telemetry communication can alert a healthcare provider when a patient is in excruciating pain. The sympathetic nervous system receives electrical impulses from the body when it experiences pain.

This condition triggers the flight or fight reaction, which constricts the blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and increases heart rate. When the monitor detects a sustained spike in heart rate, it signals that the patient is in distress and needs immediate medical attention.

You might be wondering why a patient wouldn’t just call for help. However, the reality is that discomfort can often be severe and leave a patient incapable of making any voluntary movements.

Healthcare Professionals Will Have More Time for the Treatment

Doctors can monitor patients without a face-to-face consultation, thanks to telemetry technology. As a result, healthcare professionals and doctors can focus on other patients in the hospital without compromising on diagnostic safety.

When anything odd happens with the heart’s electrical pulses, the system’s monitors alert you and the doctor monitoring it. Once the doctor is alerted about the irregularity, the treatment plan can begin immediately.

In addition, concentrating their efforts stops them from being exhausted while focusing on patients who do not require their services.

Saves Money

Irrespective of what you are monitoring, telemetry systems can save you money.

On-site telemetry removes the need for additional hourly-paid medical professionals. In addition to this, spending less time with healthy patients ensures that the hospital or clinic does not bill the patient heavily.

Patients and insurance companies save even more money using off-site telemetry. Healthy patients can obtain the monitoring they require at home. This eliminates the unnecessary cost of hospital visits and admission.

Peace of Mind for Patients

Falling ill or suffering from chest discomfort can be frightening and upsetting. Patient’s concerns can lead to nerves or panic when alone or needing to fall asleep with the discomfort.

Telemetry technology, fortunately, gives them the peace of mind they need to feel comfortable spending time alone and falling asleep. Their electrical cardiac monitoring is continuous and medical help is always ready because of cardiac telemetry.

Who Needs a Cardiac Telemetry

A doctor may order telemetry monitoring for various reasons. This may include:

  1. A recent heart attack or chest discomfort
  2. A blood clot in the legs, arms, lungs, or another part of the body
  3. Within the healing period after a severe or light stroke
  4. Arrhythmias
  5. Anesthesia or sedatives were used during surgery or to soothe a patient
  6. When on certain drugs
  7. In case of a coma
  8. Pneumonia, pneumothorax, or lung fluid accumulation
  9. Other serious illnesses that need to be monitored

How is Cardiac Telemetry Done?

Healthcare professionals will clean the skin area that needs the device. Next, adhesive pads with 3 to 12 electrodes are placed on the chest and stomach. Electrodes can also be applied to the arms and legs, depending on what the doctor deems fit. Each electrode has a wire connected to a tiny device.

The device monitors and delivers information about the heart’s functions. A healthcare practitioner monitors the data remotely without the patient having to pay a visit. The doctor examines the heart for any irregularities or changes in pattern. The system can monitor if a problem exists or is likely to surface soon.

The duration of telemetry monitoring ranges from 24 to 72 hours. During this period, your healthcare experts will evaluate the status and check whether the telemetry needs to be continued or not.

Final Words

Cardiac telemetry is one of many incredible inventions in the medical sector. It helps patients monitor heart functions for irregularities and helps medical professionals diagnose symptoms with more accuracy.

So, it is always recommended for people with a cardiac medical history to use telemetry monitoring to help avoid any future complications. The reduced costs, constant monitoring, and quicker consultation can save lives.

Don’t hesitate to check out the Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center for more information.