

- Cardiograph of the heart skin#
- Cardiograph of the heart professional#
- Cardiograph of the heart series#
There may be some slight discomfort when the electrodes are removed from your skin – similar to removing a sticking plaster – and some people may develop a mild rash where the electrodes were attached.Īn exercise ECG is performed under controlled conditions. No electricity is put into your body while it's carried out. Are there any risks or side effects?Īn ECG is a quick, safe and painless test. You may need to visit the hospital, clinic or your GP a few days later to discuss your results with a doctor. Other tests may also be needed before it's possible to tell you whether there's a problem. The recordings may need to be looked at by a specialist doctor to see if there are signs of a possible problem. You may not be able to get the results of your ECG immediately. The test itself usually only lasts a few minutes, and you should be able to go home soon afterwards or return to the ward if you're already staying in hospital.Īn ECG recording machine will usually show your heart rhythm and electrical activity as a graph displayed electronically or printed on paper.įor an ambulatory ECG, the ECG machine will store the information about your heart electronically, which can be accessed by a doctor when the test is complete. Once the electrodes are in place, you may be offered a hospital gown to cover yourself.

You can eat and drink as normal beforehand.īefore the electrodes are attached, you'll usually need to remove your upper clothing, and your chest may need to be shaved or cleaned. You don't need to do anything special to prepare for the test. These are connected by wires to an ECG recording machine. Generally, the test involves attaching a number of small, sticky sensors called electrodes to your arms, legs and chest. There are several different ways an ECG can be carried out.
Cardiograph of the heart series#
cardiomyopathy – where the heart walls become thickened or enlargedĪ series of ECGs can also be taken over time to monitor a person already diagnosed with a heart condition or taking medication known to potentially affect the heart.heart attacks – where the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked.coronary heart disease – where the heart's blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances.arrhythmias – where the heart beats too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly.It can be used to investigate symptoms of a possible heart problem, such as chest pain, palpitations (suddenly noticeable heartbeats), dizziness and shortness of breath. When an ECG is usedĪn ECG is often used alongside other tests to help diagnose and monitor conditions affecting the heart.
Cardiograph of the heart professional#
The test can be carried out by a specially trained healthcare professional at a hospital, a clinic or at your GP surgery.ĭespite having a similar name, an ECG isn't the same as an echocardiogram, which is a scan of the heart. These signals are recorded by a machine and are looked at by a doctor to see if they're unusual.Īn ECG may be requested by a heart specialist (cardiologist) or any doctor who thinks you might have a problem with your heart, including your GP.
Cardiograph of the heart skin#
Sensors attached to the skin are used to detect the electrical signals produced by your heart each time it beats. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a simple test that can be used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity.
