EKGa quick tracing of your heartbeat.
Small stickers on your chest, arms and legs pick up the electrical signal behind each heartbeat. It is painless, needs no preparation and is done at most visits.
In der Praxis verfügbar
At a glance
- How long
- About 10 minutes
- Preparation
- None needed
- Results
- Same visit
- Where
- In clinic
Why it might be recommended
Every test is chosen to answer a specific question. These are the most common reasons for this one.
- Palpitations, or a racing or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain, dizziness or fainting
- Breathlessness without a clear cause
- A baseline before starting, or while taking, some medicines
What happens
Getting ready
You lie on a couch and uncover your chest, wrists and ankles.
Electrodes
Ten small sticky pads are placed on your chest and limbs and connected to the recorder by thin wires.
Recording
You lie still and breathe normally. The recording itself takes less than a minute.
Reading
The pads come off, and the tracing is read and discussed with you during the same visit.
How to prepare
- No fasting and no change to your medicines
- Avoid body lotion or oil on your chest that day, so the pads stick well
- Tell the team if you have a pacemaker or have had palpitations recently
Conditions it helps assess
- VorhofflimmernEin unregelmäßiger, oft schneller Herzschlag, der in den Vorhöfen entsteht und das Schlaganfallrisiko erhöht.
- Koronare HerzkrankheitDie Arterien, die den Herzmuskel versorgen, werden durch fetthaltige Ablagerungen verengt.
- Angina pectorisBrustbeschwerden, meist bei Belastung, wenn der Herzmuskel kurzzeitig zu wenig Blut erhält.
- HerzrhythmusstörungEin zu schneller, zu langsamer oder unregelmäßiger Herzschlag, verursacht durch eine Störung im elektrischen System des Herzens.
Common questions
Is any electricity passed through me?
No. An ECG only records the signal your heart already makes. Nothing is sent into the body.
Can a normal ECG miss a problem?
Yes. A resting ECG captures a few seconds. Symptoms that come and go may need Holter monitoring; symptoms on exertion may need a stress test.
Will my chest need to be shaved?
Sometimes a small patch of hair is clipped so the pads stick. It is quick and painless.
Other tests
All tests
EchokardiografieIn der Praxis verfügbar
Langzeit-EKG (Holter)In der Praxis verfügbar
BelastungstestIn der Praxis verfügbar
Kardiale RisikobewertungIn der Praxis verfügbar
CT-BildgebungÜberweisung ins Krankenhaus
Kardio-MRTÜberweisung ins Krankenhaus
KoronarangiografieÜberweisung ins Krankenhaus
Analyse der KörperzusammensetzungÜberweisung ins Krankenhaus
24-Stunden-BlutdruckmessungÜberweisung ins Krankenhaus
Not sure this is the test you need?
You do not have to decide alone. Book a consultation or send a question on WhatsApp. Tests are chosen once your symptoms and history have been reviewed.
This page explains what the test involves. It is not medical advice for your situation. If you have sudden or severe chest pain, fainting or breathlessness, seek emergency care immediately.