No, an EKG test does not hurt.  Some patients may find the electrodes applied to the skin slightly uncomfortable upon removal, but the test itself is completely painless.  The feeling of having the electrodes removed is often compared to the feeling of ripping off a band-aid.  The EKG test does not pass electric energy through the body.  Instead, the electrodes simply measure the natural electrical impulses that a person’s heart creates to show your doctor whether there are any irregularities in its rhythm.  An EKG test is non-invasive and can provide you and your doctor with important information about your cardiac health.