ECG Heart Rate Calculator
This calculator helps determine your heart rate from an Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) by analyzing the R-R intervals.
Understanding ECG Heart Rate Calculation
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart. One of the key pieces of information derived from an ECG is the heart rate, which represents the number of times the heart beats per minute.
The ECG displays the heart's electrical impulses as waveforms over time. The most prominent waveform for calculating heart rate is the R-wave, which corresponds to the depolarization of the ventricles. The time interval between two consecutive R-waves (the R-R interval) is a crucial measurement.
How it works:
The heart rate can be calculated using the R-R interval with the following formula:
Heart Rate (beats per minute) = 60 / R-R Interval (seconds)
This formula works because there are 60 seconds in a minute. By dividing 60 by the duration of one cardiac cycle (represented by the R-R interval), we get the number of cycles, and therefore beats, that would occur in a minute.
Example:
If the R-R interval measured on an ECG strip is 0.75 seconds, the heart rate would be:
Heart Rate = 60 / 0.75 = 80 beats per minute.
Important Note: While this calculator provides a quick estimation, it's important to remember that accurate ECG interpretation should always be performed by a qualified healthcare professional. Factors like arrhythmias, ECG paper speed variations, and the quality of the recording can affect the accuracy of manual calculations.