Chadwick Medical Associates

An electrocardiogram (or EKG) measures the changes in the electrical activity of the heart.

When combined with a stress test, it is helpful in diagnosing coronary artery disease resulting from the hardening of the arteries. In an EKG, electrodes are attached to the arms, legs, and front of the chest. The heart's electrical activity, communicated via the electrodes, is either displayed on a screen or recorded as a trace on paper. EKG's from a normal, healthy heart, have a characteristic shape. Any irregularity in the heart rhythm or damage to the heart muscle can alter the electrical activity of the heart and will show up on the EKG trace differently from the normal wave form.

EKG's are also used in intensive care, major surgery, and sometimes during childbirth to constantly monitor a patient's heart. An EKG is painless and takes only a few minutes.