You may be advised to get an EKG if you are experiencing symptoms that could indicate a Heart problem, such as Chest pain, Shortness of breath, Dizziness, or Palpitations. The test is also commonly performed if you have risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, or if you smoke. EKGs can be used both as a diagnostic tool to investigate current symptoms and as a screening measure to monitor heart health, particularly in individuals with known cardiovascular conditions.

In some cases, an EKG is recommended before undergoing surgery to ensure that the Heart is functioning properly and to minimize the risk of complications. Athletes, especially those engaging in high-intensity sports, may also have an EKG as part of routine health checks to rule out underlying heart conditions that could be triggered by physical exertion. The test is fast, painless, and offers valuable information about the heart's condition, making it a widely used tool in preventive and diagnostic cardiology.

An EKG Measures the electrical impulses that coordinate the Heart's Beating pattern. Specifically, it tracks the timing and duration of each electrical phase of the heartbeat, including how the atria (upper heart chambers) and ventricles (lower heart chambers) contract and relax. The EKG produces a waveform that shows several key components, including the P-wave, which represents the contraction of the atria; the QRS complex, which shows the contraction of the ventricles; and the T-wave, which reflects the relaxation of the ventricles. These waveforms are critical for evaluating heart rhythm and identifying abnormalities.

In addition to the Electrical activity, an EKG can provide information on the Heart rate (how fast the heart is beating), the rhythm (whether the heart beats in a regular pattern), and the size and position of the heart chambers. It can also help detect signs of a previous heart attack or changes in the heart's electrical pathways. Any deviation from the normal EKG pattern can provide valuable clues about the presence of heart disease, arrhythmias, or structural heart abnormalities.