Cardiology Services - Electrocardiology

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (EKG)

What is an electrocardiogram or ECG?

An electrocardiogram is a tracing of the hearts electrical activity.  This tracing or wave for is drawn on graph paper. Your physician analyzes the tracing to determine if your heart is functioning normally.  Your physician may order this exam if you are complaining of chest pain, palpitations, or an irregular heart beat. EKG’s can tell your physician if you have had a hear attack or if your heart is in an irregular rhythm.

How is it performed?

The exam is performed with the patient lying flat on their back on a special bed or stretcher.

The test is performed by a health care professional such as a nurse, respiratory therapist, or cardiovascular technician. The person performing your EKG will lift your shirt up or ask you to unbutton your shirt. He or she will the place 6 EKG patches on your chest and 1 poatch on each of your extremities.  The EKG patches are stickers about 1 inch in diameter with conductive gel on them to help conduct the electrical activity form your heart to the EKG machine.  The EKG machine then turns that signal into a wave form for the physician to look at.

What kind of preparation is required?

There is no special preparation for this test.  You may eat and drink normally. We do suggest that your wear a shirt that buttons up in the front.

Does it hurt?

The exam itself does not hurt.  There may be some discomfort when the EKG patches are taken off, this will be similar to taking off a band aide.

Is it harmful?

No There are no known adverse effects.