How Much Does an ECG Test Cost?
An ECG test records the electrical signals in the heart. It's a standard and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor the heart's health.
Learn more about ECG test costs, the types of ECG tests available and what’s involved.
What is an ECG test?
ECG stands for electrocardiogram. An ECG is one of the easiest and quickest tests used to evaluate how your heart is functioning by measuring the electrical activity of the heart.
With each heartbeat, an electrical impulse travels through your heart. This electrical impulse causes the muscles to contract and pump blood around the body. Electrical impulses help different parts of the heart muscle to contract in specific ways to keep blood flowing normally.
An ECG test records the heart impulses, showing the speed the heart is beating, the rhythm of the heart beats, and the timing and strength of the electrical impulses through the heart.
The ECG itself is an easy and painless test to conduct. Several electrodes (small, plastic patches) are stuck on the skin at certain points on the chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes are connected to an ECG machine via wires. No electricity is sent into the body during the test, which takes about 5 minutes in total.
The heart's electrical activity is then measured and sent to a laboratory for interpretation to determine if the electrical activity is normal or irregular.
What is an ECG test used for?
If your heart has been beating too fast or you've been experiencing arrhythmia or chest pain, an ECG test can determine if there is a problem with your heart. Heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms, and other heart problems can affect the heart's electrical impulses, so an ECG will detect these abnormalities.
Reasons an ECG test may be performed include:
- Investigating chest pains
- If a person is experiencing severe tiredness, dizziness, fainting or shortness of breath
- Assessing overall heart health
- Identify irregular heartbeats
- To track treatment progress for conditions such as heart attacks
- Exploring how well heart medicines or pacemakers are working
- To record a baseline of the heart's function
An ECG is an effective test to diagnose many types of heart disease, although it doesn't always detect every heart problem. You may have a normal ECG result, yet still have a heart condition. If your test is normal but your doctor suspects that you have a heart problem, they may recommend another ECG or a different type of test to explore further.
The cost of an ECG test
The average private ECG test cost in the UK varies between £75 - £150. However, at Bluecrest Wellness, we are passionate that being informed about your health should be accessible to everyone. That's why our stand-alone ECG text cost is one of the most competitive in the UK. The ECG test cost with Bluecrest Wellness is £70.
We believe that to truly stay in charge of your health, regular full body check-ups are the most accurate and efficient way to know your health status. ECG testing is included with all of our Health MOT packages.
Our full body health MOT check-ups start at £149, making the ECG test cost incredibly affordable. We offer 3 levels of Health MOT, depending on how much detail you would like to know about your health:
Types of ECG Test
Different types of ECG testing are available. Here are some of the most popular types of ECG tests:
- Resting ECG: This is the most common type of ECG test involving electrodes attached to your chest, arms, and legs while lying down.
- Stress ECG: Sometimes called an exercise stress test, this kind of ECG test measures your heart during physical activity.
- Holter Monitoring: This is a small device that records the heart's activity for a 24–48-hour period.
- Event Monitoring: This is similar to Holter monitoring but only used when symptoms are presenting.
Preparing for an ECG
You do not need to prepare for an ECG test, although it’s recommended that you do not smoke or exercise just before the test. You will be asked to remove any jewellery or other objects that might interfere with the result.
Make sure your provider knows about all the medicines you are taking, as some drugs can interfere with test results.
For ease of testing, avoid clothing that is difficult to remove on the day of your ECG test. At Bluecrest electrodes need to be placed directly on your legs, arms and top of your chest. Also, avoid using oily skin creams on these areas of your body, as it may affect the ability of the electrode to adhere to your skin.
FAQs
Where can I have an ECG?
An ECG test is usually performed in a hospital or private health clinic. With Bluecrest Wellness ECG testing, you can book the test online and choose from over 350 venues throughout the UK, enabling you to get an ECG test within 20 minutes of your home or work.
Book your ECG test now with Bluecrest Wellness.
Why do I need an ECG?
If you have been experiencing unusual heart activity, such as your heart beating too fast, or you've been experiencing arrhythmia or chest pain, an ECG test can determine if there is a problem with your heart.
Reasons an ECG test may be performed include:
- Investigating chest pains
- If a person is experiencing severe tiredness, dizziness, fainting or shortness of breath
- Assessing overall heart health
- Identify irregular heartbeats
- To track treatment progress for conditions such as heart attacks
- Exploring how well heart medicines or pacemakers are working
- To get a baseline of the heart's function
What if my ECG test detects an issue?
If your ECG test results detect an issue, doctors may be able to diagnose your condition from the ECG test results, or they may recommend further tests.
Abnormal ECG results may be a sign of:
- Changes in the amount of electrolytes (such as potassium and calcium) in the blood
- Inflammation of the heart (myocarditis)
- Changes to the heart, such as enlargement of the heart or swelling of the tissue around the heart
- Damage to the heart muscle
- Past or current heart attack
- Reduced blood supply to the heart arteries
- Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia)
- Congenital heart defect
Some heart problems that can lead to changes on an ECG test include:
- Atrial fibrillation/flutter
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Multifocal atrial tachycardia
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
- Sick sinus syndrome
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Who can perform an ECG test?
An ECG can be performed by any health care professional trained in ECG testing and analysis. At Bluecrest Wellness, our ECG tests are carried out by trained health assessment specialists.
