An electrocardiogram, which is abbreviated as either EKG or ECG, is used to record your heart's electrical activity. With each heartbeat, the electrical signal passes from the top of your heart to the bottom of your heart, which sets the rhythm of your heartbeat and contracts and pumps blood. An EKG can show how fast your heart is beating, whether the rhythm is steady or irregular and the strength and timing of your heart's electrical signals.
Step 1
Prepare for the EKG examination. To start the EKG, a technician will attaches electrodes, which are soft, sticky patches, to the skin of your chest, arms and legs. Usually, twelve electrodes are used in the test, though the number may vary depending on your particular needs.
Step 2
Record the electrical signals. The electrodes will detect your heart's electrical signals and send them back to an EKG machine that the electrodes are hooked up to. Once the electrical signals are collected, they are recorded either on graph paper or displayed on a screen. You will need to stay still on the examination table for about 10 minutes while the signals are being recorded by the electrodes.
Step 3
Interpret the results. The image produced by the EKG machine will show peaks indicating your heart beat. Whether the results are on graph paper or on a screen, the background will consist of a grid with small square, which are 1 mm in length and represent 0.04 seconds, and big squares, which are 5 mm in length and represent 0.2 seconds. For example, a regular heart rhythm is determined by 300 divided by the number of large squares between the beginning of the tall peak and the end of the small bump (called the QRS complex). Refer to the image for peak clarification.
Step 4
Compare to an older EKG. If you have had a previous EKG, you can compare your new EKG graph to determine if there are any changes in your heart rate.
Step 5
Determine any abnormalities. If your heart rate is slow or abnormal, this could indicate an issue with your heart. If your EKG does not show your heartbeat starting at the top right, then your heart may not be functioning correctly. If it takes long for a signal to travel on the EKG, this delay could indicate a heart block or long QT syndrome. Other examples of abnormalities that can be discovered from your EKG results include lack of blood flow, arrhythmia, congenital heart defects, heart valve disease and pericarditis, the inflammation of the sac that surrounds your heart.
