An Electrocardiogram or ECG is one of the oldest yet most informative tests someone can have on the heart.  It involves having 10 electrodes attached to the body.  One to each limb and six across the chest.  By comparing signals from this electrodes and amplifying them, the electrical activity of the heart can then be printed on to paper to be analysed.

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ECGs are used to diagnose abnormal heart rhythms, look for signs of previous heart attacks and give an indication of the heart's function.

 

Click here for a link to the BHF information video.