Private heart scan in Portrush, Northern Ireland, ECG / electrocardiogram

An Electrocardiogram or ‘ECG’ is a test which records the rhythm, rate and electrical activity of your heart. An ECG is a quick, safe and painless test. No electricity is put into your body while it’s carried out. An ECG can be used to help diagnose and monitor conditions affecting the heart, such as:

• arrhythmias – where the heart beats too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly 

• coronary heart disease – where the heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances 

• heart attacks – where the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked 

• cardiomyopathy – where the heart walls become thickened or enlarged 

An ECG is usually one of the first tests you will have to check for heart problems.  However, it does have some limitations, occasionally you will need to have additional tests to confirm a diagnosis. 

ECG Procedure

Before the test, we will ask you to remove the top half your clothing from the waist up (including a bra, if you are wearing one). If you have a hairy chest, we may need to shave you before the test in order for the small, sticky patches (electrodes) to stick to your skin properly.

We will then place some electrodes on your chest, wrists and ankles. These electrodes will detect the electrical signals produced by your heart each time it beats. The signals will be recorded and converted by an ECG machine into a graph, which will either be displayed electronically or printed out on paper. The ECG recording will then be reviewed by the physiologist to check for any unusual activity. During the test, you will need to lie as still as possible, as any sudden movements will make it hard to get a good quality recording. You may request to have a chaperone present during your ECG. If you would like a chaperone, please speak to a member of our team before your appointment. An ECG usually takes between five and ten minutes. 

After your test

You will usually be able to go home straight after the test. There aren’t any limitations as to what you can do after the scan so you can carry on as normal.