Preventive Cardiology Clinic

Electrocardiogram

 

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is an excellent test to quickly determine if there is a problem with your heart. An EKG translates your heart's electrical activity onto a piece of paper in the form of lines, spikes, and dips called QRS complexes and T waves.

 

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Some of the questions that an EKG can answer are:

 

• The heart's rate and rhythm

• Abnormal electrial activity

• Insufficent blood flow to the heart muscle

• Abnomal chamber size or wall thickness

 

 

 

 

 

 

An EKG is very easy to perform and takes less than 15 minutes to complete. There is no prep for this test, you may eat, drink, and take medications as you normally do. You will be asked to disrobe from the waist up so that 10 electrodes can be placed on your chest wall. If you are female you will be given a gown to wear that opens in the front. You will need to lie very still while the EKG tracing is being conducted, this will minimize artifact.