An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test which measures the electrical activity of your heart to show whether or not it is working normally. An ECG records the heart’s rhythm and activity on a moving strip of paper or a line on a screen. Your doctor can read and interpret the peaks and dips on paper or screen to see if there is any abnormal or unusual activity.
Cholesterol clogging up your heart’s blood supply
A heart attack in the past
Enlargement of one side of the heart
Abnormal heart rhythms
Leads from an electrocardiograph machine are attached to the skin on your arms, legs and chest using sticky patches. These leads read signals from your heart and send this information to the electrocardiograph. The machine then prints the reading on a paper strip or on a screen.
An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a safe and painless test which normally only takes a few minutes.