(EKG or ECG): An electrocardiogram is a recording of the heart's electrical activity on a strip of moving paper. It is one of the first tests used to diagnose heart disease, although a normal EKG doesn't guarantee that the heart and coronary arteries are normal.
Instructions to the Patient Please wear comfortable clothing.
Additional Information An EKG is completely painless. No electricity goes into your body, there is no chance of electrical shock. The EKG will take no more than 20 minutes and usually much less. Many patients receive an EKG prior to having surgery to make sure the heart is functioning normally.