Electrocardiography

Electrocardiography, also referred to as ECG testing, is a noninvasive test that records the electrical activity of the heart. ECG can establish a baseline evaluation of a person’s heart and investigate newly evolving symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations. Physicians use different forms of ECG testing, including resting, stress, and ambulatory ECG.

The patient lies down and usually 10 electrodes are attached to the person’s chest and extremities. The skin occasionally needs to be prepared in order to assure appropriate electrical conductance, it generally means simple shaving and slight abrasion. The electrodes are placed on top of a light layer of gel that conducts electricity. The electrodes record the heart’s electrical impulses and transmit them to an electrocardiograph. ECG curves can be then stored and printed out for further analysis.