How can the heart rate be calculated from an ECG strip?

The heart rate can be calculated from an ECG strip by counting the number of beats in a six-second segment and multiplying that number by ten. This method is effective because it provides a quick estimate of the heart rate over a brief period, reflecting the heart's activity. Since a six-second interval represents a short snapshot of the cardiac cycle, multiplying the count by ten effectively scales it to one minute, making it a practical approach for determining the heart rate in real-time.

This technique is especially useful during continuous monitoring in a clinical setting or when assessing arrhythmias, as it allows technicians to quickly gauge the heart's rhythm and rate without the need for complex calculations, provided that the ECG is recorded at a standard speed, typically 25mm/s. Other methods for calculating heart rate may be more accurate under specific circumstances, but counting beats over six seconds is a universally accepted and straightforward approach commonly used in practice.