In-house EKG services available at select locations
Testing by pediatric experts
Professional evaluation of results
Easy to schedule
Familiar faces
How EKGs evaluate your child’s heart
An electrocardiogram is one of the simplest and fastest tests used to detect abnormal heart rhythms, congenital heart defects, and other pediatric heart concerns.
During an EKG, electrodes (small patches that stick to your child’s skin) are placed on their chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes are connected to our EKG machine by lead wires, which record the electrical activity of your child’s heart — without sending any electricity into your child’s body.
All EKG testing is coordinated by your Coastal Kids care team, so pediatric specialists are always involved in your child’s heart care.
Could your child need an EKG?
Your child may need an EKG as part of pre-participation sports clearance, to assess their heart health before a surgical procedure, or to follow up on abnormal findings during a routine exam.
EKG testing can also help determine the cause of symptoms like:
Chest pain
Rapid or irregular
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Fainting
If your child already has a congenital heart condition, EKGs are often used to track any changes in their heart activity.
When further cardiac care is needed
A normal vs. abnormal EKG
How do we determine if your child has a normal electrocardiogram or an abnormal electrocardiogram? And what are the signs of an abnormal electrocardiogram? Coastal Kids has these answers for you and more.
A normal EKG shows a healthy and regular heartbeat with a consistent pattern of intervals (waves) between the beats. A child’s normal heart rate can range from 60 to 190 beats per minute, depending on their age.
An abnormal EKG finds irregularities in your child’s heart activity, such as beating too fast or too slow. Your child’s heart may also skip beats or have extra beats.
EKG testing is painless but powerful
After the electrodes are attached to your child’s chest, arms, and legs, which are then connected by wires to the EKG machine, your child can lie back and relax. Many children watch videos or listen to music to stay calm and still while the test is performed. Most EKG testing takes less than 10 minutes.
After the test is complete, the electrodes are removed. Your provider of record will then review the results to check for any abnormalities. Some are minor, while others can indicate conditions like arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, or congenital heart defects.