Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a painless, non-invasive test in which a doctor visualizes the electrical impulses of your heart. Medical staff will place approximately 10 electrode patches on the skin of your arms, legs and chest. These electrode patches are hooked up to an electrocardiography machine which displays the electrical activity of your heart.

Common Reasons for the Test

The EKG test can give your doctor the following information about the functioning of your heart:

• Heart attack: EKGs display if you are currently having a heart attack or have had one in the past.
• Heart rate and rhythm: EKGs exhibit how fast or slow your heart is beating, and if the beats are regular or irregular.
• Oxygenated blood flow: EKGs show if there is sufficient oxygenated blood flowing to the heart muscle. This can help a doctor differentiate between chest pain (angina) and a heart attack.
• Heart structure: EKGs portray the size and configuration of the heart, as well as any defects you may have been born with.

Electrocardiography machines are found throughout the hospital and routinely found in the Diagnostic Cardiology, patient rooms, emergency department and surgery. The test takes approximately 5-10 minutes.