What is a lead?
A “lead” is an electrical view of the heart from a particular angle. More leads mean more angles, which lets clinicians localize problems. The number of leads is the main thing separating a pocket device from hospital equipment.What does a single-lead EKG show?
A single-lead device — like the SonoHealth EKGraph — records one view, which is well suited to checking heart rhythm: how fast and how regularly the heart is beating. That makes it useful for capturing palpitations or flagging a possibly irregular rhythm such as atrial fibrillation the moment you feel symptoms.What can a 12-lead EKG do that a single-lead can’t?
A 12-lead EKG records twelve views at once, letting clinicians assess the heart from many angles. This is what allows detection of things a single-lead can’t reliably show — such as signs of a heart attack or which area of the heart is affected. It’s performed in clinical settings and interpreted by professionals.So why use a personal EKG at all?
Because the most useful recording is one taken while you have symptoms — and symptoms rarely cooperate with appointment times. A single-lead device lets you capture an episode at home and bring that trace to your doctor, turning an intermittent, hard-to-catch problem into something they can review. Learn how to capture a good reading.Which one do I need?
Use a personal EKG for convenient rhythm screening and symptom capture; rely on a clinic’s 12-lead and a doctor’s interpretation for diagnosis. They complement each other — the home device flags, the clinic confirms.Related: Home EKG Overview · Atrial Fibrillation · Heart Attack vs Arrhythmia · How to Capture a Good Reading