mm/mV on Wellue Monitor

[Corazon17]

On the ECG tracings that I get from my Wellue 24-hour heart monitor, there is a drop-down list from which I can select an "mm/mV number."

The numbers range from 1.25 to 40.

When I change from one number to the next, the tracings go from nearly flat to dramatic peaks. The peaks are so high with 40, that they overlap the line of tracings that are above them.

I guess the adjustments allow more for better analysis of certain tracings.

Does anyone here know if there is a standard mm/mV to use when printing things out?

I see that my Kardia monitor uses 10 mm/mV, which is my guidance for now, although 20 is somehow more satisfying to look at.

Twenty makes me look strong, yet nonthreatening. Forty makes me look like I'm manic, domineering, oppressive, and no fun to be around. Ten looks like Donovan, 40 looks like Mick Jagger.

[frazeej]

I can’t answer your query, but I do like your analogies to rock stars! I hope someone does answer your question, as it’s quite interesting.

JimF

[ozziebob in reply to frazeej]

Ditto re the pop star analogies ... probably a consequence of Corazon17 "dropping acid at Disneyland in 1969", as most of us hippies did (I meant the "acid" bit, not the "Disneyland" bit!). Mind expanding!🤔😄and very amusing!

Re an answer to this Post, I hope you will find Cliff_G 's reply to a similar question posed yesterday by Corazon17 contains the answer you are seeking.

mm/mV is the vertical displacement of the trace, 10 mm/mV is the standard used on normal doctors' 12 lead ECGs, which means 10 mm peak height corresponds to 1 millivolt electrical signal measured. I have found on the Wellue that the chest strap gives a greater peak height than the sticker method. Chest strap can give overlapping traces on the ECG pdf at 10 mm/mV, and sometimes you have to change it to 5 mm/mV before making pdf.

[MeganMN]

Standard is usually 25!

[Cliff_G in reply to MeganMN]

Yes, 25 mm/sec horizontal.

[Ennasti]

Standard is usually 10/mV 25mm/s.

MV = millivolt

MM = millimetre

Millivolt is the vertical deflection of the beat. A standard ECG is set so that 1 mV of electrical activity produces a deflection of 10 mm (1 cm) on the paper. This means that for every 1 mV of heart electrical activity, the ECG tracing moves 10 mm vertically on the paper.

This ensures that the size of the waves on the ECG is proportional to the actual electrical activity of the heart, making it easier to assess the heart’s function and diagnose conditions based on the wave heights.

The millimetres measurement shows how fast the paper was moving I.e. 25mm per second

[Corazon17 in reply to Ennasti]

Thank you for the excellent description.

Why would one change to 1.25 or 2.5 or 5?

Or to 20 or 40?

Is it to make it easier to understand things when 10 doesn't yield a usable tracing?

[Ennasti in reply to Corazon17]

Cardiologists and medical professionals will sometimes change the speed and amplitude to see more of the rhythm over longer period of time or to magnify or shrink amplitude.

FWIW - if I were you, I’d set it to the standard and leave it at that as your doctors would be using the standard. They need a previous baseline.

[Cliff_G in reply to Ennasti]

True, but the Wellue is a single lead Holter, not a 12 lead ECG, and the electrode placements will cause different height responses to a 12-lead. Even between the electrode and chest strap options you'll see a different height. For me the chest strap produces taller traces.