Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

If you have an irregular heartbeat or if your doctor suspects you might have heart disease, they might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an EKG or ECG, to check your heart health.

Our team is here to help care for your heart and help you feel better. We schedule your electrocardiogram (EKG) test as quickly as possible. Your doctor might even be able to do the test in their office using a portable EKG machine.

EKG vs. ECG test

EKG and ECG tests are both abbreviations for an electrocardiogram. EKG comes from the German word, which uses “k” instead of “c” in both parts of the word. An electrocardiogram is different from an echocardiogram, which creates images of your beating heart.

What is an EKG test?

An EKG test checks your heart’s electrical activity through electrodes attached to your chest, arms and legs. The electrodes send information to a computer, and the results are recorded as digital files. An EKG test is a noninvasive test, meaning it does not require surgery or the insertion of a catheter.

Your doctor might use an EKG test to detect:

• Irregular heart rate or rhythm (arrhythmia)
• 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

Reasons for an EKG test

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

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

EKG when symptoms come and go

If your symptoms come and go, they may not be detected during a standard EKG test. If this is the case, your doctor might recommend remote or continuous EKG monitoring such as:

• Holter monitor: A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records a continuous electrocardiogram (EKG), 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.

Are you at risk for heart disease?

Knowing your risk factors of heart disease – the leading cause of death in the U.S. – can help you lower your chances of developing it. Our heart health quiz estimates your risk, determines which of your risk factors are controllable and gives you an idea what to do next based on your results.

EKG detects heart disease risks

An EKG test can help your doctor diagnose many common heart problems including:

• Arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm or heart rate)
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart failure
• Coronary artery disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Heart valve disease
• Heart attack

Your doctor also may use an EKG test to screen for:

• Heart health before surgery
• Heart problems in their early stages before you even notice symptoms
• Genetic heart problems, particularly if a parent or sibling had heart disease, especially early in life
• Your heart’s reaction to a new medication
• The effectiveness of a new or existing pacemaker

What to expect during your EKG test

The EKG is a very simple test that doesn’t require any special preparation on your part.

During the EKG test, you’ll change into a hospital gown and lie on your back. The technician will place 12 EKG lead wires to adhesive electrodes on your chest, legs and arms.

You’ll need to lie very still for about 10 minutes while the EKG machine records electrical activity in your heart. The resting 12-lead electrocardiogram – the standard EKG test – takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.

After your EKG test, you’ll be able to go home the same day with no restrictions in activities.

Test results

A physician who specializes in reading EKGs will review the results showing electrical activity in your heart and send them to your doctor. Your doctor will use the EKG test results to develop a treatment plan as needed and determine whether any additional testing is needed.

EKG test results can give your doctor details about the following:

• Blood and oxygen supply to the heart
• Heart attack
• Heart rate
• Heart rhythm
• Heart structure changes