It is a precise and completely painless method of examining the heart’s work using a special apparatus (electrocardiograph) that records the functional currents of the heart muscle produced during each contraction. It allows to detect many diseases and disorders of this organ, such as ischemia or rhythm disturbances.

The patient has to take off the top of his clothes (blouse, shirt) and lie down on his back on the couch in the office.

Then the doctor degreases his skin with alcohol or a special gel where he applies electrodes. This allows the electrical resistance between the skin and the electrodes to be reduced. Then, with the help of rubber straps or special suction cups, and 6 electrodes are attached to the skin of the chest. In contrast, on the lower limbs (ankles) he fixes electrodes, thanks to which The ECG machine can pick up the signals from the skin and write them down on paper. Electrocardiography is a completely safe and non-invasive – it takes about 10 minutes.

Among the indications for the examination, there are symptoms indicating work disorders of a heart such as:

• pain, prickling in the chest,
• heart palpitations,
• feeling short of breath,
• fainting, loss of consciousness,
• recurrent dizziness,
• hypertension.
• ECG is also recommended for people:
• diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia,
• with a pacemaker (this allows you to monitor its functioning).

After the age of 40, the electrocardiogram should be performed regularly every 1-3 years.

There are heart problems that cannot be detected by ECG or so-called echo of a heart – in such cases it is necessary to perform a test that monitors the heart’s work around the clock, which is called ECG using the Holter method.

Testing with this method is ordered if the patient has had:

• abnormal heart rhythms (palpitations, fast or uneven beating)
• symptoms of a heart block (abnormally slow work),
• symptoms of ischemic heart disease,
• repeated fainting and fainting.