An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals that make your heart beat. Electrodes on your chest, arms and legs pick up these signals, and the machine draws a line. From it the doctor reads your rhythm, heart rate, conduction and the state of the heart muscle. An ECG takes 5-10 minutes. It does not hurt. There are no contraindications. At Oberig Clinic the recording is done in the functional diagnostics room on a 12-channel ECG machine with a monitor. Functional diagnostics doctors and cardiologists read it.
What an ECG shows
On the tracing the doctor sees where the rhythm starts (normally in the sinus node), how fast your heart beats and whether it beats evenly. An ECG picks up arrhythmias: atrial fibrillation, extra beats, fast and slow heart rhythms. It shows heart blocks, where the signal is delayed between parts of the heart, and changes in intervals, such as a long QT.
The ECG shows signs of ischemia (the heart muscle getting too little oxygen), a current or past heart attack, a thickened left ventricle from high blood pressure and strain on the atria. Sometimes it reveals low potassium or magnesium, or the effect of medicines. If you have a pacemaker, the recording shows how it works.
A standard ECG is a snapshot of a few minutes at rest. An arrhythmia that comes once a day can easily miss it. Then the doctor orders Holter ECG monitoring for a day or longer. To catch ischemia that shows up only during effort, you do an exercise test. The structure of the heart, the valves and the pumping are checked with an echocardiogram.
Comparing with older recordings is very useful. A Q wave or an inverted T wave that has been on your ECGs for 10 years means something very different from the same change that appeared last week. Keep your old ECGs and bring them along. The doctor can then tell an old scar from a new problem much faster.
When to have an ECG
You need an ECG for chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, skipped beats or a racing heart, dizziness, fainting, swollen legs or high blood pressure. It is done before surgery and anaesthesia or dental work under sedation, for medical boards and driving licence checks, and ahead of sport or swimming.
For prevention, have an ECG every year after 40. With risk factors start earlier: smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, extra weight, high cholesterol, heart disease in the family. An ECG is part of every check-up and pre-surgery programme at the clinic. Doctors also check the recording during treatment with some medicines, for example anti-arrhythmic drugs.
Severe chest pain that lasts more than 10-15 minutes, spreads to the arm, jaw or back and comes with a cold sweat and fear is not a reason to book an ECG. Call 3003. The clinic's emergency service works around the clock and will record an ECG on the spot.
Getting ready
No special preparation is needed. A few simple rules make the recording more accurate, though. Arrive 10 minutes early and sit quietly. After stairs or a fast walk your pulse goes up, and the tracing changes.
- do not smoke or drink strong coffee 1-2 hours before the test
- do not eat a heavy meal right before the recording, a light breakfast is fine
- do not put cream or oil on your chest, it weakens electrode contact
- wear clothes that make it easy to uncover your chest, lower legs and wrists
- bring your earlier ECGs and a list of the medicines you take
Do not stop your medicines on your own, even if they affect your pulse. Tell the doctor what you take. They will keep it in mind when reading the ECG.
How the ECG is recorded
You lie on your back on the couch. The nurse wets your skin with gel or water and puts on 10 electrodes: four on the arms and legs and six on the chest. The machine records 12 leads. That means it looks at your heart from 12 different angles. Lie still, do not talk and breathe evenly. If you feel nervous and your pulse jumps, say so. The nurse gives you a few minutes to calm down and repeats the recording. Sometimes the doctor asks you to hold your breath for a few seconds.
The recording itself takes 1-3 minutes. With preparation the whole visit takes 5-10 minutes. No current goes through your body. The machine only picks up the signals of your heart. The test is completely safe. Newborns and pregnant women at any stage can have it.
How is it done for women? The same way, but the chest electrodes go under the breast and between the breasts. It is easier to take off or lower your bra. Wear a top and trousers rather than a dress. In pregnancy the ECG may show small changes because the heart shifts and blood volume grows. The doctor takes the stage of pregnancy into account.
Reading the ECG
A functional diagnostics doctor or a cardiologist writes the report. The recording takes only a few minutes, and the doctor can then read it and give a first opinion. The report covers the rhythm, heart rate, electrical axis, the length of intervals and waves, and any signs of thickening, ischemia or scarring.
What common phrases in the report mean. "Sinus rhythm" is normal. "Sinus tachycardia" means a pulse over 90, often from nerves, fever or coffee. "Sinus arrhythmia" in young people is often linked to breathing and is not a disease. "Incomplete right bundle branch block" is found in healthy people. "Nonspecific repolarization changes" need to be matched with your symptoms. "Left axis deviation" often comes with a thickened left ventricle or in people who are overweight. "Early repolarization" is a common normal variant in young people and athletes. Single extra beats happen in healthy people too.
The report is always read together with your symptoms. If something is unclear, book a cardiologist consultation. The doctor explains the result and decides if you need an echocardiogram, a Holter or blood tests.
Normal ECG values
A normal adult ECG means sinus rhythm, normal intervals and no signs of ischemia or thickening. The numbers below are a rough guide. Your doctor reads the ECG with your age, sex, medicines and symptoms in mind.
| Measure | Normal range for adults |
|---|
| Rhythm | sinus, regular |
| Heart rate | 60-90 bpm at rest |
| PR interval | 0.12-0.20 s |
| QRS complex | up to 0.10 s |
| QTc interval | up to 0.44-0.46 s (slightly longer in women) |
| Electrical axis | -30° to +90° |
Children have a faster pulse and a different axis, so their ECG is read against age norms. In athletes a pulse of 45-55 and small repolarization changes are often normal.
A normal resting ECG does not rule out every heart problem. If symptoms keep coming back and the recording is clean, the doctor looks further: a Holter, an exercise test, a heart ultrasound.
ECG for children
Children have an ECG before joining a sports club or school, for a heart murmur, fainting, palpitations, chest pain or slow physical development. The test is the same as for adults, only the electrodes are smaller. Mum or dad can stay close and hold the child's hand to help them lie still.
A child's ECG is read against age norms. In a baby a pulse of 110-150 is normal. In an adult it would be tachycardia. That is why a doctor who works with children should read it. If you have questions about your child's heart, book a combined consultation with a pediatric cardiologist that includes an echocardiogram and an ECG.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have an ECG during pregnancy?
Yes. The electrodes only read signals. They have no effect on the baby.
Can I eat before the test?
A light breakfast is fine. Skip a heavy meal right before the recording. It speeds up your pulse a little.
How often can I have an ECG?
As often as you need. There is no radiation, so there is no limit. Doctors repeat it as often as treatment requires.
My heart hurts but the ECG is normal. Why?
The pain may not come from the heart. The spine, muscles or the gullet can cause it. Or the changes appear only during an attack or effort. Then you need a Holter or an exercise test.
When will I get the result?
The doctor can give a first opinion right after the recording. If you need a detailed report from a cardiologist, ask about timing when you book.
Do I need a referral?
No, you can book yourself. If a doctor sent you, bring the referral so the report answers their exact question.
Can one ECG find the cause of skipped beats?
Yes, if they happen during the recording. If they are rare, you need monitoring over one or several days.
ECG price at Oberig Clinic
A resting ECG costs UAH 785. If you have wider questions about your heart, a combined cardiologist consultation is better value. It already includes an echocardiogram and an ECG. ECG prices in Kyiv vary. One reason is whether a doctor's report is included, so check this in advance. The resting ECG is also part of every check-up programme at the clinic.
| Test | Price |
|---|
| Resting ECG | UAH 785 |
| Combined cardiologist consultation (echo, ECG) | UAH 2,980 |
| Combined consultation with a cardiologist, MD, Honoured Doctor of Ukraine (echo, ECG) | UAH 3,095 |
| Cardiologist consultation | UAH 1,670 |
| Holter monitoring (24 hours) | UAH 2,895 |
| Combined pediatric cardiologist consultation (echo, ECG) | UAH 2,695 |
Prices are taken from the clinic's price list as of 12.10.2026. They may change. Please check the current cost with the contact centre. Combined consultations with echo and ECG are booked only through the contact centre.
Why choose Oberig Clinic for an ECG
- A 12-channel ECG machine with a monitor. The doctor watches your condition during the recording and adds extra leads when needed.
- Functional diagnostics doctors read the recordings: Nataliia Mizina, PhD, and Oksana Korytska, a top-category doctor with 37 years of experience.
- Cardiologists Olena Chervonopyska, MD, Honoured Doctor of Ukraine, Olena Holubovska, a top-category doctor, and Tetiana Dolyna explain the result and draw up a treatment plan.
- Echocardiogram, Holter, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and exercise testing are in the same department. No need to look for other centres.
Address: 3 Zoolohichna St., buildings "G" and "V", Kyiv. ECG for adults and children by appointment. Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.
