ECG Service

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that can help diagnose certain heart conditions by measuring the electrical activity of the heart.

Small sticky dots (electrodes) and wire leads are placed on your chest, arms and legs. The leads attach to the ECG machine (electrocardiograph) which records the electrical activity of the heart muscle and displays this as a trace on a screen or on paper.

Any abnormality in the heart rhythm or rate, or damage to the heart muscle, can change the electrical activity of the heart. A doctor will examine the trace and look for specific features of different heart conditions.

An ECG can help diagnose:

• Conditions involving the heart’s electrical system
• Heart attacks
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) – rapid, slow or irregular heart beats
• Poor blood supply to the heart
• Heart inflammation (pericarditis or myocarditis)
• Cardiac arrest.

A doctor may recommend an ECG for a person:

Experiencing symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm such as:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Feeling of your heart racing, fluttering, thumping or pounding in your chest (palpitations)
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating

Experiencing warning signs of a heart attack or angina such as:

• Discomfort or pain in your chest, arms, shoulders, neck, jaw or back
• Dizziness, light headedness, feeling faint or feeling anxious
• Nausea, indigestion, vomiting
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sweating or a cold sweat