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Tests & Procedures

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

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Overview
Electrocardiogram
Enlarge image

An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in the heart. It's a common

and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor the heart's
health.

An electrocardiogram — also called ECG or EKG — is often done in a health care

provider's office, a clinic or a hospital room. ECG machines are standard
equipment in operating rooms and ambulances. Some personal devices, such as
smartwatches, offer ECG monitoring. Ask your health care provider if this is an
option for you.
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Types
Holter monitor
Implantable loop recorder: A heart monitoring device

Why it's done

An electrocardiogram is a painless, noninvasive way to help diagnose many
common heart problems. A health care provider might use an electrocardiogram
to determine or detect:

Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)

If blocked or narrowed arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease) are
causing chest pain or a heart attack
Whether you have had a previous heart attack
How well certain heart disease treatments, such as a pacemaker, are
working

You may need an ECG if you have any of the following signs and symptoms:

Chest pain
Dizziness, lightheadedness or confusion
Heart palpitations
Rapid pulse
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 Shortness of breath
Weakness, fatigue or a decline in ability to exercise

The American Heart Association doesn't recommend using electrocardiograms

to assess adults at low risk who don't have symptoms. But if you have a family
history of heart disease, your health care provider might suggest an
electrocardiogram as a screening test, even if you have no symptoms.

If symptoms tend to come and go, they may not be detected during a standard
ECG recording. A health care provider might recommend remote or continuous
ECG monitoring. There are several different types.

Holter monitor. A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records a

continuous ECG, usually for 24 to 48 hours.
Event monitor. This portable device is similar to a Holter monitor, but it
records only at certain times for a few minutes at a time. You can wear it
longer than a Holter monitor, typically 30 days. You generally push a button
when you feel symptoms. Some devices automatically record when an
irregular rhythm is detected.

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ECG on medical helicopter
A person receives an ECG while on a helicopter for medical transport.

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Risks
An electrocardiogram is a safe procedure. There is no risk of electrical shock
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during the test because the electrodes used do not produce electricity. The
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electrodes only record the electrical activity of the heart.

You may have minor discomfort, similar to removing a bandage, when the
electrodes are removed. Some people develop a slight rash where the patches
were placed.

How you prepare

No special preparations are necessary for a standard electrocardiogram. Tell
your health care provider about any medications and supplements you take.
These can often affect the results of an ECG.

What you can expect

An electrocardiogram can be done in a health care provider's office or hospital.

Before

You may be asked to change into a hospital gown. If you have hair on the parts
of your body where the electrodes will be placed, the care provider may shave
the hair so that the patches stick.

Once you're ready, you'll typically be asked to lie on an examining table or bed.

During

During an ECG, up to 12 sensors (electrodes) are attached to the chest and

limbs. The electrodes are sticky patches with wires that connect to a monitor.
They record the electrical signals that make the heart beat. A computer records
the information and displays it as waves on a monitor or on paper.

You can breathe during the test, but you will need to lie still. Make sure you're
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warm and ready to lie still. Moving, talking or shivering may interfere with the
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test results. A standard ECG takes a few minutes.

After

You can typically return to your usual activities after your electrocardiogram.

Results
Your health care provider might discuss results with you the same day as your
electrocardiogram or at your next appointment.

ECG results can give a health care provider details about the following:

Heart rate. Usually, heart rate can be measured by checking the pulse. An
ECG may be helpful if your pulse is difficult to feel or too fast or too irregular
to count accurately. An ECG can help identify an unusually fast heart rate
(tachycardia) or an unusually slow heart rate (bradycardia).
Heart rhythm. An ECG can detect irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). An
arrhythmia may occur when any part of the heart's electrical system doesn't
work properly.
Heart attack. An ECG can show evidence of a previous heart attack or one
that's currently happening. The patterns on the ECG may help determine
which part of the heart has been damaged, as well as the extent of the
damage.
Blood and oxygen supply to the heart. An ECG done while you're having
symptoms can help your health care provider determine whether reduced
blood flow to the heart muscle is causing the chest pain.
Heart structure changes. An ECG can provide clues about an enlarged
heart, heart defects and other heart problems.

If results show a heart rhythm problem, you may need another ECG or other
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test, such as an echocardiogram. Treatment depends on what's causing your

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signs and symptoms.

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By Mayo Clinic Staff

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) care at Mayo Clinic

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Doctors & Departments

March 19, 2022

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