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ECG vs EKG - What's the difference between them?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on July 3, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

There is no difference between an ECG and an EKG. ECG stands for electrocardiogram, and EKG is the German spelling for elektrokardiographie, which is the word electrocardiogram translated into the German language. An ECG (EKG) is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. An ECG may also be called a 12-lead ECG or a 12-lead EKG.

Some people prefer to use the abbreviation EKG, even if they speak English because it is less likely to be confused with an EEG (an electroencephalogram), which is a test that measures the electrical activity in the brain.

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The most common medicines used to treat and help prevent worsening heart disease include:

  • Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) and other cholesterol-lowering medicines
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
  • Calcium channel blockers / calcium antagonists
  • Beta blockers
  • Isosorbide or nitroglycerin
  • Antiplatelet drugs, like aspirin or clopidogrel
  • Warfarin or other blood thinners
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Physical activity prevents heart disease by helping you maintain a healthy weight and keeping your joints mobile to allow you to do daily activities such as climbing stairs and shopping. This keeps your heart pumping and blood and oxygen flowing around your body. Physical activity has also been shown to lower stress hormones and reduce your risk of depression or cognitive decline (this is how you think or learn, and your judgment skills). When you feel good about yourself and the world you live in, then you are more inclined to be active and to take good care of yourself, which helps your heart as well. It also boosts your immune system, causing changes in antibodies and white blood cells which are the body’s immune cells that fight disease. This can lower your risk of catching infections, such as the cold or the flu, or help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways. Continue reading

You can check for heart disease at home by measuring your pulse rate and your blood pressure if you have a blood pressure monitor. To measure your pulse you will need an analog watch (one with a clock face rather than digital numbers) with a second hand. Place your index and middle finger of your hand on the hollow part of your inner wrist of the other arm, just below the base of the thumb. You should feel a tapping or pulse against your fingers, that is your heartbeat. Look at your watch and count the number of taps you feel in 10 seconds. Multiply that number by 6 to find out your heart rate for 1 minute. Continue reading

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