Electrocardiogram: Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is done to:
- Find the cause of unexplained chest pain, such as a heart attack, inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart (pericarditis), or reduced blood flow to the heart muscle (ischemia).
- Find the cause of symptoms of heart disease, such as unexplained chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, or rapid, irregular heartbeats (palpitations).
- Check the heart's electrical activity.
- Find out if the walls of the heart chambers are too thick (hypertrophied).
- Check how well medicines are working and whether they are causing side effects that affect the heart.
- Check how well mechanical devices, such as pacemakers or defibrillators implanted in the heart, are working to control a normal heartbeat.
- Check the health of the heart when other diseases or conditions are present, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, diabetes, or a family history of early heart disease.
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| Last updated: | April 21, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, George Philippides, MD - Cardiology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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