Electrocardiogram

Measures the electrical activity of your heart to detect abnormalities.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a routine test to measure the electrical activity and rhythm of your heart. Analysis of the results can indicate any damage to the heart muscle.


An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a routine test to measure the electrical activity and rhythm of your heart. Analysis of the results can indicate any damage to the heart muscle.

A referral letter from a consultant or GP is required before booking any diagnostic investigation.

Why you might need it

As well as measuring the electrical activity of your heart, an ECG can detect changes in heart rhythm and abnormalities in the signals themselves, such as palpitations. The test can be used to assess if you have had a heart attack or detect evidence of a previous heart attack.

If you decide to have your procedure with us, you will be looked after by an experienced multi-disciplinary care team.

Find a Spire hospital offering this treatment

Who will do it?

Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see, and when you want. They'll be with you every step of the way.

All of our consultants are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well-equipped hospitals and clinics.

Our consultants have high standards to meet, often holding specialist NHS posts and delivering expertise in complex sub-specialty surgeries. Many of our consultants have international reputations for their research in their specialised field.

Before your treatment

You will need a referral letter from a consultant or GP is before booking any diagnostic investigation.

You will have a formal consultation with a healthcare professional. During this time you will be able to explain your medical history, symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.

We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests, such as scans or blood tests, are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.

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Preparing for your treatment

We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.

For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.

Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

The procedure

While an ECG is a completely routine and safe procedure, we understand that being advised to have your heart checked can potentially be a time of anxiety and worry. Our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you, holding your hand, every step of the way.

An ECG is a painless test, which takes less than a minute to perform once the leads are in position. During an ECG, electrodes will be placed on your wrists, ankles and chest as you relax. These electrodes are connected to a machine, which records all the electrical signals from your heart.

After the test, we will remove the electrodes and review the readings from the ECG machine, which appear as a series of waves.

Aftercare

We will discuss your results with you after the test.

If anything out of the ordinary is found, they will tell you what it could mean and potential treatment paths that best suit your circumstances.

We offer integrated medical care and can create a treatment plan to help put you back on the road to good health, or we can send your results straight to your GP.

Why choose Spire?

We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.

Important to note

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.

What is an electrocardiogram?

An electrocardiogram (an ECG or EKG) is a simple test that looks at your heart rate, rhythm and electrical activity. Your heart’s electrical activity is what coordinates your heartbeats. Heart conditions can interfere with this electrical activity. 

During an ECG, sensors are attached to your skin to record your heart’s electrical activity. This can help your doctor diagnose or monitor a wide range of heart conditions including: 

  • Arrhythmia — an irregular heartbeat eg too fast, too slow or missed beats
  • Cardiomyopathy — where the walls of your heart have thickened
  • Coronary heart disease or angina — where the blood supply to your heart is reduced by a build-up of fatty substances in the blood vessels supplying your heart
  • Heart attack — where the blood supply to your heart is suddenly stopped
  • Structural abnormalities of your heart — eg enlarged heart chambers, an enlarged heart wall and heart defects 

It can also be useful to rule problems out and it’s usually one of the first heart tests you’ll have if your doctor suspects something is wrong.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is not to be confused with an echocardiogram, which is a scan of your heart’s structures. 

How do I know if I need an electrocardiogram?

If your doctor or a doctor specialising in treating heart conditions (a cardiologist) thinks you may have a problem with your heart, they may recommend that you have an ECG to help work out the cause of symptoms such as:

If you have already been diagnosed with a heart condition or are taking medication that could affect the health of your heart, you may have a series of ECGs over time to monitor your heart’s condition. This may also be done to check that treatment for a heart condition (eg a pacemaker) is working correctly.

A referral letter from a consultant or GP is required before booking any diagnostic investigation.

Find your nearest Spire hospital

Almost all of our hospitals can offer you an electrocardiogram. Our fast diagnostics mean you don’t have to wait long for your results.

Spire Manchester Hospital

How an electrocardiogram works

Before your electrocardiogram

You will need a referral letter from a consultant or GP before booking any diagnostic investigation, including an electrocardiogram.

You don't need to prepare for your electrocardiogram in any special way and can eat and drink as usual. At your appointment, you may need to remove your upper body clothing so that the ECG sensors can be attached to your wrists and chest, as well as your ankles. You may also need to have your chest area shaved or cleaned. 

During your electrocardiogram 

Once the sensors are placed on your chest, you may be given a hospital gown to wear. The sensors will record electrical signals produced by your heart each time it beats to look at your heart’s rate, rhythm and electrical activity. 

For standard ECGs, you'll need to breathe normally and lie still. It's is therefore important to make sure you feel comfortable and warm, as moving or shivering could affect your ECG results. 

Once your electrocardiogram is complete, you can return to your normal activities.

Types of electrocardiograms

There are different types of ECG tests. Your doctor will recommend the most suitable one based on the suspected heart problem and your symptoms. You may therefore have: 

  • Standard ECG: This is taken while resting in a clinic or hospital. The sensors on your skin are connected to an ECG machine, which shows your recordings to a doctor.
  • Stress ECG: This is similar to a standard ECG, except the recordings are taken while you’re physically exerting yourself (eg on a treadmill or exercise bike) to see how well your heart works when you’re more active. It may be recommended if your symptoms tend to occur during physical activity.
  • ECG monitoring: This is also called Holter monitoring or an ambulatory ECG, which allows for your heart’s activity to be recorded over 24 to 48 hours. In a clinic or hospital, three sensors will be placed on your chest and the attached wires taped down. The wires  connect to a small portable device attached to a belt worn around your waist. You can then return home and continue with your normal activities. However, you can’t have a bath or shower during your ECG monitoring. The procedure is safe and painless. Once complete, you'll return the device to the hospital and your results will be analysed. It may be recommended if your symptoms are unpredictable, random and short-lived. It can help diagnose atrial fibrillation or skipped heartbeats that don’t happen often.

How long does an electrocardiogram take?

This depends on the type of ECG you have. A standard ECG takes a few minutes, whereas ECG monitoring may be taken over one or two days while you’re at home. A stress ECG usually lasts for up to 12 minutes.

How will I get my electrocardiogram results?

The ECG will be carried out by a specially trained healthcare professional, which may be your consultant, a nurse or your GP. They may be able to discuss your results straight away or they’ll pass on a report to the doctor who requested the test. We try to get your results back to you as soon as possible as less waiting means less worrying.

Depending on your ECG results, you may need further tests to help identify the cause of any problems you’re having. 

Electrocardiogram risks

An ECG is a quick and safe test. No electricity will be passed into your body. You may feel some discomfort when the sticky sensors are removed and some people experience a mild rash where they were attached. 

During stress ECGs, you'll be carefully monitored, so if you experience any symptoms or feel unwell, the ECG will be stopped. 

What is the difference between EKG and ECG?

ECG and EKG are the same test. ECG is the abbreviation usually used in the UK. The abbreviation EKG is based on the German spelling of electrocardiogram ie elektrokardiogramm.

What are the four signs your heart is quietly failing?

Early signs of heart failure include feeling more tired than usual (fatigue), shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles, legs, thighs and/or abdomen, as well as a range of breathing problems including general difficulty breathing, coughing and wheezing.

What is a good ECG reading?

An ECG detects your heart’s electrical activity and presents it as a graph with a repeated pattern representing your heartbeats. This repeated pattern includes three main humps or peaks called the P wave, QRS complex and T wave, which look a particular way in a healthy heart. Interpreting ECGs is a specialist skill and after your ECG a report will be written and sent to the doctor who requested your ECG. They will explain the results to you, including whether any abnormalities were detected and what this means. 

Does being nervous affect an ECG?

Being nervous can increase your heart rate but won’t cause any other abnormalities on your ECG.

How do you know if your ECG is abnormal?

The doctor who requested your ECG will be sent a report with your ECG results. They will explain the results to you and if any abnormalities were found, what they mean for your heart health and whether you need any further investigations or treatment. 

How do you read ECG results?

Reading ECG results is a specialist skill. Your ECG results will therefore be read by your doctor, a doctor specialising in treating heart conditions (a cardiologist) or a technician specially trained in taking ECGs and analysing their results (an electrophysiologist).

What is cardiac anxiety?

Cardiac anxiety is anxiety, fear or distress caused by paying particular attention to perceived changes in your chest or heart area ie in your breathing or heart rate, whether or not there is an underlying condition.

Can a heart monitor detect anxiety?

A heart monitor ie ECG monitoring can detect anxiety as anxiety can cause your heart rate to rise.

How do I stop heart palpitations from anxiety?

You can reduce heart palpitations caused by anxiety by trying relaxation techniques (eg deep breathing, meditation and yoga), avoiding stimulants (eg caffeine, tobacco and recreational drugs) and stimulating your vagus nerve (eg by splashing your face with cold water, holding your breath and bearing down as if you're opening your bowels).

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.

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Get in touch

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Marketing Information

Spire would like to provide you with marketing information about products and services offered by Spire and by selected third-party partners. If you do not consent for us to process your personal data for marketing activities, we will still be able to contact you about your enquiry.

We may contact you by email, SMS or phone about your enquiry. If we try to contact you by phone (mobile and/or landline) and you are not available, we may leave you a voicemail message. We may also use your details to contact you about patient surveys we use for improving our service or monitoring outcomes, which are not a form of marketing.

We will use your personal information to process your enquiry. For further information, please see our privacy policy.

Submit my enquiry