What Is a 12-Lead EKG? A Tech Explains What Those Stickers Are Doing

You've probably seen an EKG on television.

Someone lies down, a bunch of little stickers get stuck to their chest, and suddenly there's a bunch of squiggly lines on a screen.

But what are those stickers actually doing?

What is an EKG?

EKG stands for electrocardiogram.

In simple terms, it records the electrical activity of your heart.

Your heart has its own electrical system that controls each heartbeat. The EKG machine records that electrical activity so it can be looked at from several different angles.

That's where the “12-lead” part comes in.

So what do I actually do?

You'll lie down comfortably, and I'll place small adhesive electrodes, or stickers, on your chest and limbs.

The stickers are connected to the EKG machine.

They don't send electricity into your body.

They simply pick up the electrical signals your heart is already producing.

Once everything is connected, the machine records the tracing.

The test itself is quick and noninvasive.

What are we looking for?

A 12-lead EKG can provide information about your heart rate and rhythm and can show certain electrical patterns that may need further evaluation.

An EKG isn't a crystal ball, and it can't tell us everything about your heart.

That's important.

A screening EKG doesn't replace your doctor, and it doesn't rule out every possible heart problem.

What it can do is give us another piece of information about your cardiovascular health.

If something on the screening needs medical attention, you can take that information to your healthcare provider and let them determine what comes next.

Why offer an EKG at work?

For someone working a regular 9-to-5 job, making a doctor's appointment may already be a hassle.

For someone working nights, rotating shifts, long days, or physically demanding work, it can be even harder.

That's one of the reasons ForgedWell brings cardiovascular screening directly to the workplace.

We're trying to remove one of the biggest excuses people have for putting off their health:

“I don't have time.”

You don't have to drive somewhere else just to get the screening.

We bring the equipment to you, you take a few minutes out of your workday, and then you can get back to what you were doing.

That's what ForgedWell is all about.

Making cardiovascular screening easier to actually get done.