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ECG (electrocardiogram) or EKG is a painless and non-invasive diagnostic test used to detect heart diseases by measuring the electrical activity of the heart. The types of ECG are stress test, Holter monitor, and event recorder. This test is indicated when your symptoms are suggestive of a heart problem. The symptoms include chest pain, difficulty breathing, tiredness, irregular heartbeats, and abnormal heart sounds. In this test, 12 to 15 electrodes are placed on the chest, arms, and legs, which are then connected to the ECG machine using electrical leads. These electrodes detect the electrical changes as the heart beats, which is recorded on a paper with a moving tip that is attached to the ECG machine. An ECG helps diagnose conditions like heart valve problems, coronary artery disease, abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias), and heart attacks.