An electrocardiogram is a simple, painless test that measures your heart’s electrical activity. It’s also known as an ECG or EKG. Every heartbeat is triggered by an electrical signal that starts at the top of your heart and travels to the bottom. Heart problems often affect the electrical activity of your heart. Your doctor may recommend an EKG if you’re experiencing symptoms or signs that may suggest a heart problem, including:
An EKG will help your doctor determine the cause of your symptoms along with what type of treatment might be necessary.
An EKG is quick, painless, and harmless. After you change into a gown, a technician attaches 12 to 15 soft electrodes with a gel to your chest, arms, and legs. The technician may have to shave small areas to ensure the electrodes stick properly to your skin. Each electrode is about the size of a quarter. These electrodes are attached to electrical leads (wires), which are then attached to the EKG machine.
During the test, you’ll need to lie still on a table while the machine records your heart’s electrical activity and places the information on a graph. Make sure to lie as still as possible and breathe normally. You shouldn’t talk during the test.
After the procedure, the electrodes are removed and discarded. The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes.
An EKG records a picture of your heart’s electrical activity for the time that you’re being monitored. However, some heart problems come and go. In these cases, you may need longer or more specialized monitoring.
Some heart problems only appear during exercise. During stress testing, you’ll have an EKG while you’re exercising. Typically, this test is done while you’re on a treadmill or stationary bicycle.
Also known as an ambulatory ECG or EKG monitor, a Holter monitor records your heart’s activity over 24 to 48 hours while you maintain a diary of your activity to help your doctor identify the cause of your symptoms. Electrodes attached to your chest record information on a portable, battery-operated monitor that you can carry in your pocket, on your belt, or on a shoulder strap.
Symptoms that don’t happen very often may require an event recorder. It’s similar to a Holter monitor, but it records your heart’s electrical activity just when symptoms occur. Some event recorders activate automatically when they detect symptoms. Other event recorders require you to push a button when you feel symptoms. You can send the information directly to your doctor over a phone line.