Electrocardiogram (ECG)

There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend that you have an ECG:

• If you are preparing for an operation that could affect your heart, and a medical team needs to make sure that we know how well it is working beforehand.
• After treatment, to measure how active your recovery can be.
• If you are experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations. They might indicate heart problems.
• Lifestyle factors such as smoking, being overweight or diabetic or having high cholesterol.
• If you are at an increased risk of heart disease due to family medical history.

A standard ECG also called a resting ECG, is taken while you are at rest. During the ECG, you are lying on your back and several small electrodes are placed on your chest, arms and legs. Some gel is used allowing for adhesion to the skin. The recording takes a few seconds and then the electrodes are removed. You won’t feel any discomfort and normal activities can be resumed straight after the test.