Electrocardiography (EKG) is a diagnostic tool that measures and records the electrical activity of the heart. It determines the rate and rhythm of the heart, whether there is damage present, and the size and position of the heart’s chambers. EKG is a painless procedure, during which electrodes that are connected to a recording machine will be stuck to the chest, wrist, and ankles. The machine will display electrical impulses in the heart as a trace on a screen.

EKG is a quick and painless procedure that is performed on an outpatient basis. The information that is interpreted by EKG is drawn as a graph that consists of multiple waves. The number of waves per minute that are shown on the graph is the heart rate. The heart’s rhythm will also be assessed. The shapes of the waves can assess your heart’s electrical system, just like an angiogram looks at the plumbing system. It can suggest that you may have had a heart attack at some point in time, as well as suggesting there may be a narrowing or blockage in a heart artery.

EKG results are available immediately, and the machine provides an initial interpretation of the results instantly. EKG tracings can be stored as computer files or printed. When Dr. Stevens over reads the computer interpretation of the EKG, he will have a picture of the heart’s plumbing and electrical systems to help determine the proper diagnosis.