Does an EKG usually show if you have angina in the heart?

An EKG (electrocardiogram) is a diagnostic tool used to assess the electrical activity of the heart. It can be used to detect angina, which is chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. Depending on the type of angina, an EKG may show abnormal characteristics including ST segment elevation or depression, T wave inversion, left ventricular hypertrophy, or abnormal repolarization. In some cases an echocardiogram may also help diagnose certain types of angina. Coronary artery disease causing unstable and chronic forms of angina will often cause increased areas of abnormality due to coronary artery narrowing that interferes with cardiac muscle perfusion during stress (a hallmark feature of these types). Since an EKG is mostly based on electrical activity and not blood flow patterns, it cannot definitively detect all forms and causes of angina and other more extensive tests such as echocardiograms should be undertaken for better diagnosis.