ECG Services
Clinico ECG Test Services at Mulund, Bhandup & Thane
We provide ECG testing service at our Mulund East & West centres, Bhandup centre and upcoming Thane centre. Our best-in-class ECG machines give an accurate reading of the heart rate of a patient.
What is an ECG?
ECG, also known as Electrocardiogram or EKG, is a commonly used test for identifying signs of heart disease. It records the electrical activity of your heart via small electrode patches which are attached to the skin of your chest, arms & legs by a trained expert.
A fast, painless and completely safe test, ECG helps doctors to:
- Diagnose a heart attack
- Inspect heart rhythm
- Check whether there is low blood flow to your heart muscle (known as ischemia)
- Examine abnormal things, like thickened heart muscle
- Identify the presence of substantial electrolyte abnormalities, like high potassium or high/low calcium
ECG Test Preparation
The common preparations for an ECG Test that doctors advise include:
- Wear a t-shirt/shirt that can be freely removed to place the leads on your chest
- Get your chest hair shaved to facilitate an improved connection (for men)
- Do not apply oily/greasy skin creams & lotions on the day of the test as they can prevent the electrodes from making contact with the skin
- Avoid wearing full-length hosiery, as electrodes will be placed directly on your legs
ECG Test Procedure
On reaching the clinic, a trained technician will attach ten electrodes with adhesive pads to the skin of your chest, arms & legs.
You will then be told to lie flat on your back while a computer generates a picture, on graph paper, of the electrical impulses that move through your heart. This test is known as a ‘resting’ ECG.
The test duration is around 10 minutes, with the recording only taking a few seconds to complete. A doctor examines the images with ECG patterns to diagnose the heart problem or monitor the heart condition. The reports are then filed to compare with future ECG tests.
Types of ECG Tests
Following are the three main types of ECG tests, which are conducted depending on the symptoms & suspected heart issue:
- Resting ECG: Test conducted while in a lying down position
- Stress or Exercise ECG: Test conducted while using an exercise bike or treadmill
- Ambulatory ECG (also known as Holter monitor): Electrodes connected to a small portable machine worn on the waist for monitoring the heart at home for 1 or more days
The stress or exercise ECG is usually suggested if the symptoms have resulted from physical activity. In contrast, an ambulatory ECG is carried out if the symptoms are unpredictable and are experienced in random, brief episodes.