When Should ECG be done

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An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a test which checks for problems with the electrical movement of your heart. An ECG translates the heart's electrical movement into line tracings on a paper. The dips and spikes in the line tracings are called waves. When should ECG be done could be determined when a person feels the symptoms of heart diseases such as chest pain and shortness of breath.

A muscular chamber which is made up of 4 chambers is known as the heart. Atria are the upper 2 chambers of the heart whereas the lower 2 chambers are known as ventricles. The heart muscles contract and pump blood through the heart to the lungs and the rest of the body due to a natural electrical system.

Why ECG is Done?

An ECG is done to:

  • Check the electrical activity of the heart
  • Determine the cause of mysterious chest pain, which might be caused by a heart attack, angina or swelling of the sac surrounding the heart (pericarditis).
  • Determine the cause of symptoms of heart disease, such as dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath or quick, abnormal heartbeats (palpitations), etc.
  • Find out if the walls of the chambers of the heart are too thick (hypertrophied).
  • Verify how well the medicines are working and whether they are causing side effects which affect the heart.
  • Determine how well the mechanical devices such as pacemakers which are entrenched in the heart are working to manage a normal heartbeat.
  • Confirm the heart's health when other diseases or conditions are present such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking cigarettes, diabetes or a family history of early heart disease.

How and When should ECG be Done?

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is generally done by a health professional and the resulting ECG is interpreted by a doctor such as an electro physiologist, cardiologist or surgeon. During an ECG:

  • There would be a table or a bed on which you would lie. The areas where small metal discs (electrodes) would be placed such as legs, arms and chest would be cleaned and you might require shaving your chest in order get accurate readings. There might be a special ECG paste or small pads drenched in alcohol placed between your skin and the electrodes, so that the electrical impulses are transferred without any difficulty but in several cases disposable electrodes which do not require alcohol or paste are used.
  • On your skin on each arm and leg and on your chest, there are many electrodes attached. A machine which traces your heart movement onto a paper is hooked by these electrodes. The electrodes might be moved at different times during the test to gauge your heart's electrical activity from different locations on your chest if an older machine is used. The electrode paste is wiped off after the procedure.

There is no chance of problems while having an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). An ECG is a totally safe test. In majority of cases, there is no reason why you must not be able to get an ECG. The electrodes are used to transfer an image of the electrical movement of your heart to tracing on paper. No electricity passes throughout your body from the machine, and there is no danger of receiving an electrical shock.