ELECTROCARDIOGRAM
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a medical test that detects cardiac (heart) abnormalities by measuring the
electrical activity generated by the heart as it contracts. The machine that records the patient’s ECG is called
an electrocardiograph.
The electrocardiograph records the electrical activity of the heart muscle and displays this data as a trace on a
screen or on paper. This data is then interpreted by a medical practitioner.
A doctor may recommend an ECG for people who may be at risk of heart disease because there is a family
history of heart disease, or because they smoke, are overweight, or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high
blood pressure.
They may also recommend an ECG if a person is experiencing symptoms such as:
chest pain
shortness of breath
dizziness
fainting, or
fast or irregular heartbeats (palpitations).
ECGs are often performed to monitor the health of people who have been diagnosed with heart problems, to
help assess artificial cardiac pacemakers, or to monitor the effects of certain medications on the heart.
Three major types of ECG are:
Resting ECG – you lie down for this type of ECG. No movement is allowed during the test, as electrical
impulses generated by other muscles may interfere with those generated by your heart. This type of
ECG usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
Ambulatory ECG – if you have an ambulatory or Holter ECG you wear a portable recording device for
at least 24 hours. You are free to move around normally while the monitor is attached. This type of ECG
is used for people whose symptoms are intermittent (stop-start) and may not show up on a resting ECG,
and for people recovering from a heart attack to ensure that their heart is functioning properly. You
record your symptoms in a diary and note when they occur so that your own experience can be
compared with the ECG.
Exercise stress test (EST) – this test is used to record your ECG while you ride on an exercise bike or
walk on a treadmill. This type of ECG takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete.
, ECG PREPARATIONS
Prepare yourself for the equipment that will be attached to you. In order to obtain an ECG, the
technician will place a variety of small patches called "electrodes" over areas of your chest, your arms, and
your physician. The placement of these patches (electrodes) may seem random, but they are in fact
carefully calculated as the best possible positions, or "vantage points," from which to record the electrical
activity of the heart.
legs. There will be about 10–15 electrodes in total, depending upon the complexity of information
desired by your The electrodes themselves are harmless. They do not emit electricity; they
merely record and measure the electrical activity in your heart. This can provide a lot of useful
information to your medical provider.
The only problems one could have from the electrodes are either itchiness or, for men with hairy
chests, the technician may require the chest hair in those areas to be shaved in order to
optimize the adhesion of the electrodes to the skin (they do not stick properly when too much
hair is present).
The electrodes will then be attached via lead wires to the ECG machine, which records the
information for the doctor as the procedure takes place.
Be aware of how it will feel. The great thing about an ECG is that you do not feel anything as the
procedure is underway. Other than some possible mild irritation from the electrodes placed upon your skin,
there is otherwise no sensation associated with the test itself.
Remove your jewelry and any other accessories. Prior to undergoing the ECG, the technician
performing the test will ask you to remove any jewelry or other accessories that could possibly interfere
with the electrical readings. You will also be asked to remove clothing on the upper half of your body so
that your chest and arms are exposed, and you may be asked to wear shorts to better expose your
legs. For your modesty, the technician will offer you a gown to cover yourself.
Lie still for the duration of the test. The ECG will only take a few minutes in total once the procedure
is underway (not counting equipment set-up time). For the duration of the test, it is important that you
do not talk, move, or engage in any activity that could disrupt the test readings. Lie as still as possible
in order to ensure the greatest accuracy of the results. Breathe normally (as you would at rest) as
abnormal respiration could also interfere with test results
12 LEAD PLACEMENT: Although this is called a 12 lead ECG you only need 10 sticky pads, 4 for the limb
leads and 6 for chest leads. Place them in the following locations
Right wrist (or shoulder).
Left wrist (or shoulder).
Right ankle, laterally.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a medical test that detects cardiac (heart) abnormalities by measuring the
electrical activity generated by the heart as it contracts. The machine that records the patient’s ECG is called
an electrocardiograph.
The electrocardiograph records the electrical activity of the heart muscle and displays this data as a trace on a
screen or on paper. This data is then interpreted by a medical practitioner.
A doctor may recommend an ECG for people who may be at risk of heart disease because there is a family
history of heart disease, or because they smoke, are overweight, or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high
blood pressure.
They may also recommend an ECG if a person is experiencing symptoms such as:
chest pain
shortness of breath
dizziness
fainting, or
fast or irregular heartbeats (palpitations).
ECGs are often performed to monitor the health of people who have been diagnosed with heart problems, to
help assess artificial cardiac pacemakers, or to monitor the effects of certain medications on the heart.
Three major types of ECG are:
Resting ECG – you lie down for this type of ECG. No movement is allowed during the test, as electrical
impulses generated by other muscles may interfere with those generated by your heart. This type of
ECG usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
Ambulatory ECG – if you have an ambulatory or Holter ECG you wear a portable recording device for
at least 24 hours. You are free to move around normally while the monitor is attached. This type of ECG
is used for people whose symptoms are intermittent (stop-start) and may not show up on a resting ECG,
and for people recovering from a heart attack to ensure that their heart is functioning properly. You
record your symptoms in a diary and note when they occur so that your own experience can be
compared with the ECG.
Exercise stress test (EST) – this test is used to record your ECG while you ride on an exercise bike or
walk on a treadmill. This type of ECG takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete.
, ECG PREPARATIONS
Prepare yourself for the equipment that will be attached to you. In order to obtain an ECG, the
technician will place a variety of small patches called "electrodes" over areas of your chest, your arms, and
your physician. The placement of these patches (electrodes) may seem random, but they are in fact
carefully calculated as the best possible positions, or "vantage points," from which to record the electrical
activity of the heart.
legs. There will be about 10–15 electrodes in total, depending upon the complexity of information
desired by your The electrodes themselves are harmless. They do not emit electricity; they
merely record and measure the electrical activity in your heart. This can provide a lot of useful
information to your medical provider.
The only problems one could have from the electrodes are either itchiness or, for men with hairy
chests, the technician may require the chest hair in those areas to be shaved in order to
optimize the adhesion of the electrodes to the skin (they do not stick properly when too much
hair is present).
The electrodes will then be attached via lead wires to the ECG machine, which records the
information for the doctor as the procedure takes place.
Be aware of how it will feel. The great thing about an ECG is that you do not feel anything as the
procedure is underway. Other than some possible mild irritation from the electrodes placed upon your skin,
there is otherwise no sensation associated with the test itself.
Remove your jewelry and any other accessories. Prior to undergoing the ECG, the technician
performing the test will ask you to remove any jewelry or other accessories that could possibly interfere
with the electrical readings. You will also be asked to remove clothing on the upper half of your body so
that your chest and arms are exposed, and you may be asked to wear shorts to better expose your
legs. For your modesty, the technician will offer you a gown to cover yourself.
Lie still for the duration of the test. The ECG will only take a few minutes in total once the procedure
is underway (not counting equipment set-up time). For the duration of the test, it is important that you
do not talk, move, or engage in any activity that could disrupt the test readings. Lie as still as possible
in order to ensure the greatest accuracy of the results. Breathe normally (as you would at rest) as
abnormal respiration could also interfere with test results
12 LEAD PLACEMENT: Although this is called a 12 lead ECG you only need 10 sticky pads, 4 for the limb
leads and 6 for chest leads. Place them in the following locations
Right wrist (or shoulder).
Left wrist (or shoulder).
Right ankle, laterally.
