Electrocardiogram

ECG (Electrocardiogram), EKG (Electrocardiogram)

Why It Is Done

An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is done to:

• Find the cause of unexplained chest pain, such as a heart attack, inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart (pericarditis), or reduced blood flow to the heart muscle (ischemia).
• Find the cause of symptoms of heart disease, such as unexplained chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, or rapid, irregular heartbeats (palpitations).
• Check the heart's electrical activity.
• Find out if the walls of the heart chambers are too thick (hypertrophied).
• Check how well medicines are working and whether they are causing side effects that affect the heart.
• Check how well mechanical devices that are implanted in the heart, such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), are working to control a normal heartbeat.
• Check the health of the heart when other diseases or conditions are present, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, diabetes, or a family history of early heart disease.

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Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: April 21, 2006
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine George Philippides, MD - Cardiology
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