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Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

Believe it or not, you have an electrical system in your heart. In the right atrium of the heart, a special group of heart cells called the sinoatrial (or sinus) node act as a natural pacemaker that sends an electrical signal throughout the heart. As the signal is transmitted rhythmically through different areas of the heart, the heart muscle contracts and causes blood to be pumped to the lungs and throughout the body.

An electrocardiogram measures this electrical activity in your heart. So if you have unexplained chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting or rapid, irregular heartbeats, our cardiologists will use this test to determine the cause of your symptoms. Our cardiologists may also use this to test how well your prescribed medicines are working, the impact of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, diabetes or other risk factors on your heart, or how well your implanted devices are working to control your normal heartbeat (if you have an implanted mechanical device such as a pacemaker).