What heart condition can be detected by analyzing the EKG?

Analyzing the EKG is particularly effective for detecting arrhythmias because the electrocardiogram provides a visual representation of the electrical activity of the heart. Changes in the heart's rhythm can lead to various types of arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and ventricular tachycardia, among others. The EKG can show abnormal patterns in the heartbeats, variations in the heart's conduction pathways, or irregular intervals between beats that indicate arrhythmias.

In contrast, conditions like asthma, hypertension, and diabetes do not have direct markers on an EKG. While hypertension can indirectly affect the heart's electrical activity over time and may lead to findings on an EKG, it is not a condition that is diagnosed solely through this test. Asthma is a respiratory condition, and diabetes primarily affects metabolic processes, neither of which is specifically revealed through an electrocardiogram.