Regular pulses of electrical activity cause the heart muscle to contract and the heart to beat. Monitoring the timing and progress of these electrical waves can help cardiologists detect abnormal heart rhythm as well as provide information about chambers of the heart that may be under stress, enlarged or not functioning properly. A simple, non-invasive test called an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) uses electrodes placed on the patient’s chest, legs and arms to chart this electrical activity. The test involves no radiation and no pain—ECG simply detects and records the electrical impulses from the body.
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