ECG (electrocardiogram)

An ECG is a test to check the electrical activity of your heart. It can show changes to your heart rate or rhythm and tell your doctor how well your heart is working.

ECG stands for electrocardiogram. You might also hear this test called a heart trace. An ECG can give your doctor a lot of information about your heart. It can help the doctor decide if you need further tests.

Having an ECG

To have the test, a trained healthcare professional puts small sticky pads on your chest, arms and legs. These sticky pads are called electrodes. Wires connect these to an ECG recording machine. These wires are called ECG leads. There are usually 10 small sticky pads and wires in total. The different wires look at the heart activity from different places.   

The ECG machine shows your heartbeat as an electrical trace on a screen. Your doctor can see the heartbeat and rhythm on a TV screen or print it out on paper.  

Below is a picture of an ECG printed on paper.

You might have an ECG in a clinic, on a ward or in a GP surgery. It takes about 5 minutes. The electrodes and wires must be in the correct place, so it can sometimes take a little longer.  A trained healthcare assistant, nurse or doctor does the ECG for you.

Having a portable ECG

Some people need to have an ECG machine on for monitoring for a day or longer. This means they have a portable machine that they can carry around. This is an ambulatory ECG machine. This test has fewer ECG sticky pads and leads. It can show changes in your heart that might happen at different times of the day. 

A healthcare professional will show you how to look after the machine. They will also explain how long you need this for and when to return the machine. A specialist will then look at the results. 

You are not able to have a bath or shower when you are wearing your portable ECG machine.