Electrocardiogram (ECG) Duration?

Fnz

Does anyone know how long an electrocardiogram (ECG) procedure should take?

I had one recently and was hooked up to the ECG machine for 1 minute and told I was fine. It took about as long to attach and remove the electrodes from my chest. These electrodes were attached to my chest over my chest hair; is this right?

I accept, though, that I know nothing about the procedure - other than what I read online (search results return varying exam durations and often mention that hair should be removed prior to electrode application).

> I'm sure I probably sound like a hypochondriac but the test didn't strike me as being very thorough and this is kinda important to me.

Any information appreciated.

Iago

I've had a couple over the last year or so. The first time they shaved my chest and and attached to the bare skin, the next time they just attached over the chest hair. Both times I was only connected for a couple of minutes which I believe is standard for one of these examinations unless a major discrepency is found.

Your best bet is to ask a GP or medical professional though, but your experience is similar to my own.

copacetic

not an expert, but the only reason to remove hair would be to get a good electrode contact. once they can get a signal it is the same whether you have hair in the way or not.

some tests can run for 24 hours to check certain things out,
like do you have episodes in your sleep for instance. However a std ECG just has to catch a couple of heartbeats to see do they look alright..

Vorsprung

Fnz wrote:

I had one recently and was hooked up to the ECG machine for 1 minute and told I was fine. It took about as long to attach and remove the electrodes from my chest. These electrodes were attached to my chest over my chest hair; is this right?

Yep it's a pretty short test, it's only designed to measure your heart's electrical activity over a short period. Another poster mentioned another test which is the 24 hour Holter Monitor, which is used to see if there's an intermittent irregular heartbeat.

Fnz

I'm much obliged to you for your responses!

I was trying to get a straight answer out of the interweb earlier but there's such a universe of information out there that no matter what search terms I used, nailing down a consistent time was proving impossible.

My chest/heart has felt somehow different the past couple of months. I went to the doctor yesterday... (whom referred me to) the ECG today - to be told I'm fine. However, I'm still concerned about how my chest has been a-feeling.

Thanks for your help.

DrIndy

ECGs take a few seconds to do - usually 10 seconds is more than enough. They measure a snapshot of the heart beat and there is no more than this needed