ECG (electrocardiogram)
Quick answer: An ECG records the electrical activity of the heart using small stickers on the chest, arms and legs, and shows heart rate, rhythm and some signs of strain or damage. Doctors order it for chest pain, palpitations, breathlessness or fainting, and as a routine check before surgery. Extra leads look more closely at rhythm or the right side of the heart.
- SampleImaging (no sample)
- TakesAbout 5 to 10 minutes
- Before the testNo special preparation is usually needed; wear clothes that make it easy to uncover your chest.
How the test is done
- 1You uncover your chest, wrists and ankles and lie flat on a couch
- 2Small sticky pads are placed on your chest, arms and legs
- 3Wires from the pads are clipped to the machine
- 4You lie still and breathe normally for a few seconds while the tracing is recorded
What your results can mean
Reading your report
Your doctor reads the ECG along with your symptoms, since some small changes are normal for many people.
If the result is outside the usual range
An ECG can show a heart rate that is too fast or too slow, an irregular rhythm such as atrial fibrillation, signs of a past or current heart attack, strain on the heart, or changes linked to blood salt levels. A normal ECG at rest does not rule out every heart problem, especially ones that come and go.
Who usually has this test
People with chest pain, palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness or fainting, and many people before surgery or anaesthesia.
Risks and aftercare
An ECG is painless and sends nothing into your body; removing the pads may pull on body hair, and there is no aftercare.
Names and options
Also called: ECG, EKG, electrocardiogram, heart tracing
Options
- Standard 12-lead ECG
- All leads with deep breath
- All leads with long lead II and V1 (rhythm strip)
- 12 leads with right-sided leads (V3R, V4R)
Listed by the hospital as
- ECG
- ECG ALL LEADS + DEEP INSPIRATION
- ECG ALL LEADS + LONG LEAD II & V1
- ECG 12 LEADS+V3R+V4R
Questions about this test
Does an ECG give an electric shock?
No, the machine only records the heart's own electrical signals and sends nothing into your body. You feel nothing apart from the cool sticky pads.
Can an ECG show a heart attack?
Yes, an ECG can show changes from a heart attack that is happening now or one that happened in the past. Blood tests are usually done as well to confirm.
Why might my chest need to be shaved for an ECG?
Thick chest hair can stop the pads sticking well, which makes the tracing less clear. Staff may clip a small patch of hair where the pads go.
Related tests
Tamara Hospital & IVF Centre, Rajajinagar
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The hospital is open 24 hours. Call before you come to check the timing for your scan or sample collection.
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This page explains each test in general terms so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice: your doctor decides which tests you need and what your results mean. Reference ranges differ between laboratories. Updated 4 November 2026.