What should you know about a mobile ECG machine?

An ECG uses adhesive electrodes on the chest and limbs to capture electrical signals. The recording is usually brief, while some mobile devices monitor for longer when symptoms come and go. A clinician reviews the tracing with your symptoms, pulse, blood pressure, medicines and medical history.

The machine does not send electricity through the body and should not cause a shock. Hair, movement, sweating, or poor electrode contact can affect the tracing, so a repeat recording may be needed.

Wear clothing that allows access to the chest and tell the clinician about medicines, implanted devices, skin irritation, or difficulty lying still. Rest quietly before and during a brief recording, and avoid talking or moving unless the team asks you to.

If symptoms occur at other times, note what you felt, when it started, what you were doing, and how long it lasted. A normal brief tracing may not capture an intermittent rhythm, so discuss whether longer monitoring is suitable.

Call emergency services for severe or persistent chest pressure, fainting, major breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, or a racing or irregular heartbeat with dizziness. Do not delay urgent care while waiting for an ECG appointment or result.

Ask what symptom or concern the ECG is checking, whether the recording is brief or prolonged, when the result will be reviewed, and what should happen if your symptoms return.