Electrocardiogram (ECG) at Edinburgh Hospital

An ECG (Electrocardiogram) measures the electrical activity of the heart and gives important information about the rate and regularity of beats, the size and position of the chambers and any damage to the heart. ECGs can be carried out while resting or while exercising, depending upon the result required. Some of our hospitals offer an exercise ECG, which can be extremely valuable in diagnosing underlying coronary disease. It is also an assessment of exercise capability. It is a treadmill activity where the exercise load on the heart is increased to assess if sufficient oxygen is reaching the heart muscle.