An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a diagnostic test that records the electrical activity of your heart through small electrode patches attached to the skin on the patient’s chest, arms, and legs. When the electrodes are connected to the EKG/ECG machine by lead wires, the electrical activity of the patient’s heart is measured, interpreted, and printed out for the physician’s information and further interpretation.

Your EKG at Primary Care Associates of Appleton may be part of a routine physical exam or it may be used as a test for heart disease. An EKG is quick, safe, and painless, and no special preparation is required prior to testing.