What is the meaning of EKG?

An Electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that records the electrical activity of your heart. It detects possible problems with the electrical activity, such as irregular heartbeats, which can help diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular conditions. An EKG measures the electrical signals produced by your heart when it beats and typically consists of 12 leads placed on different parts of your body to create an electrocardiographic tracing from several angles. Each lead will pick up different aspects of the cardiac cycle while all being interpreted in one graph; this allows doctors to identify abnormal rhythms due to arrhythmias or other abnormalities. The EKG reading helps determine if there is any structural damage caused by coronary artery disease, increases or decreases in blood flow, and assesses effectiveness of various treatments for abnormal rhythms or structural issues with the heart.