Routine blood tests are also used to measure how well medications are working and whether dosages should be adjusted. Also known as an EKG or ECG, a resting electrocardiogram records the electrical impulses that stimulate your heart to beat. Electrodes , or leads, attached to the arms, legs and chest detect electrical impulses as they move through the heart. A machine converts these impulses into a zigzag readout. Resting ECGs are recommended if there is a history of premature heart disease in your family, if you have risk factors for heart disease or if other tests or symptoms indicate one is needed.
Stress tests record the heart's electrical activity during exercise.
The patient steps onto a treadmill and begins to walk. The heart's electrical activity is then observed on a screen and recorded while a patient exercises. Like resting ECGs, stress tests are recommended if there is a family history of premature heart disease, if risk factors are present or if other tests or symptoms indicate one is needed. Echocardiograms provide information about the heart's structure. A microphone-shaped instrument called a transducer is placed on the chest.