Also known as the ECG, the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram is a representation of the heart's electrical activity. This is recorded from ten electrodes placed on the body surface. There would be one electrode on each limb and six in the left sided chest area. It is completely painless and usually takes about five to ten minutes to set up and record. It will give information about your heart’s rate and rhythm as well as whether there are any structural problems. All patients with a history of chest pain, palpitations or hypertension should have an ECG as part of there assessment. This will usually be performed by Dr Davis or a trained physiologist as part of your initial visit. A typical recording looks like below. The rhythm strip shows an atrial ectopic beat.