ECG (Electrocardiogram)

What is an Electrocardiogram (ECG)?

Electrocardiogram is a test that is used to check your heart’s rhythm and electrical activity.

Sensors attached to the skin are used to detect the electrical signals produced by your heart each time it beats. These signals are recorded by a machine and are looked at by a doctor to see if they’re unusual.

An ECG may be requested by a heart specialist or any doctor who thinks you might have a problem with your heart.

Results

An ECG recording machine will usually show your heart rhythm and electrical activity as a graph displayed electronically or printed on paper. For an ambulatory ECG, the ECG machine will store the information about your heart electronically, which can be accessed by a doctor when the test is complete.

You may not be able to get the results of your ECG immediately. The recordings may need to be looked at by a specialist doctor to see if there are signs of a possible problem. Other tests may also be needed before it’s possible to tell you whether there’s a problem.