Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram, or ECG, records the rhythm and electrical activity of your heart.
Several small patches are put on your arms, legs and chest. The patches, called ‘electrodes’, are connected to a recording machine, which picks up the electrical signals produced by each heartbeat. It records a few beats from each set of electrodes onto paper. The test takes about ten minutes and will not be uncomfortable at all.
An ECG can detect problems with your heart rhythm. It can sometimes show if a person has had a heart attack, either recently or some time ago, and sometimes it can show if the heart may be working under strain. The ECG is a simple and useful test.
An ECG can detect problems with your heart rhythm. It can sometimes show if a person has had a heart attack, either recently or some time ago, and sometimes it can show if the heart may be working under strain. The ECG is a simple and useful test.