An ECG is a recording of the heart’s electrical signal to show how fast your heart is beating and whether your heartbeat is steady or irregular.

It may be performed as a routine screening test, or for people who are experiencing chest pain, high blood pressure, breathing problems or heart palpitations. Some people may need to undergo an ECG if they are having chemotherapy treatment.

An ECG can indicate:

• An irregular, slow or fast heartbeat
• Abnormalities of the heart
• The presence of previous heart attacks, which can damage the heart muscle