An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart. EKG's can identify abnormal heartbeats and rhythms. It can show the thickening of the heart muscle due to high blood pressure and other diseases. It is particularly helpful for diagnosing a heart attack and shows the effects of old heart attacks as well. It can show whether a part of the heart is not getting enough blood and can identify chemical imbalances in the body.

The EKG is a painless procedure that takes less than 5 minutes. Small electrodes are placed on your chest, arms and legs. These patches are connected to a machine that records the electrical activity of your heart.