An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in your heart its a common and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor your hearts health electrocardiograms also called ecgs or ekgs are often done in a doctors office a clinic or a hospital room. An electrocardiogram or ekg is a simple test that doctors use to measure the electrical activity of the heart this helps them look for underlying heart conditions sometimes an abnormal ekg. Your doctor may suggest you get an electrocardiogram also called an ekg or ecg to check for signs of heart disease its a test that records the electrical activity of your ticker through