An ECG is a painless, noninvasive way to help diagnose many common heart problems in people of all ages. Your doctor may use an ECG to determine or detect:
- Abnormal heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias)
- If blocked or narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) are the cause of your chest pain (angina)
- Whether you are having a heart attack
- How well certain heart disease treatments, such as a pacemaker, are working.
A cardiologist may review ECG findings and also perform an echocardiogram, which is a more detailed ultrasound of the heart’s structure, that shows how blood is being pumped through your heart valves and chambers.
