ECG test · Singapore
A resting ECG records your heart's electrical activity in a few minutes, and a treadmill ECG repeats the recording during exercise. Both are done at Wheelock Place.
A few stickers and a clear record of your heart's rhythm.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) records the electrical signals that make your heart beat. Small stickers on the chest, arms and legs pick up these signals and show them as a tracing. It is quick and non-invasive, and it shows your heart's rate and rhythm and some signs of strain or past damage.
At Fusion Medical, a resting 12-lead ECG is included in every health screening package except the laboratory-only Fusion Executive. A treadmill stress ECG is included in the Merdeka (male and female), Liver & Cardiovascular, Andropause and Perimenopause & Menopause packages, and can be chosen in, or added to, several others.
An ECG is a snapshot of the moment it is recorded. A normal resting ECG does not rule out heart disease, and symptoms that come and go may need a longer recording or other tests, such as an echocardiogram. Your doctor looks at the ECG alongside your blood pressure, cholesterol and symptoms.
Types of ECG
A resting ECG is recorded while you lie still and shows your heart's rhythm at rest. A treadmill (exercise stress) ECG records the same signals while you walk on a treadmill that gets faster and steeper in stages, to see how your heart responds when it has to work harder.
Resting 12-lead ECG
Ten stickers are placed on your chest, arms and legs, and the machine records 12 views of the heart's electrical activity. It can show:
Treadmill stress ECG
You walk on a treadmill while your ECG, heart rate and blood pressure are monitored. The test compares your ECG at rest and during exercise, looking for changes that can suggest narrowed coronary arteries. It stops if you have symptoms or reach your target heart rate.
When more tests are needed
Palpitations that come and go may need a longer recording, such as a Holter monitor, and questions about the heart's structure need an echocardiogram; your doctor can refer you for these. A treadmill result that raises concern is followed up with further tests or a cardiologist referral.
Who it's for
A resting ECG is a routine part of adult health screening. A treadmill ECG is usually considered for adults with risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking or a family history, after a doctor's assessment.
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A resting ECG is included in all our screening packages except the laboratory-only Fusion Executive.
High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or smoking? The Liver & Cardiovascular package adds a treadmill ECG.
The Fusion Merdeka packages for men and women include both resting and treadmill ECGs.
The Perimenopause & Menopause and Andropause packages include resting and treadmill ECGs.
See a doctor first. An ECG is often the first test, with others added as needed.
Your ECG, step by step
Choose a package with a resting or treadmill ECG, or ask our team about adding a treadmill test.
Wear a two-piece outfit. For a treadmill ECG, bring exercise clothes and shoes, and follow your doctor's advice about any heart medicines.
Stickers are placed on your chest, arms and legs. The resting ECG takes a few minutes; the treadmill test continues the recording while you walk.
Your doctor explains the ECG with your other results and arranges an echocardiogram or a specialist referral if needed.
Safety & expectations
An ECG is a snapshot of your heart's rhythm. A normal result is reassuring, but symptoms still deserve a doctor's attention.
Tell us about your medicines, any heart condition and previous ECGs, and bring earlier reports. If you have chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness, seek urgent care rather than waiting for a test.
Fusion Medical performs resting and treadmill ECGs at Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road. A resting ECG is included in almost all of our health screening packages, and a treadmill stress ECG is included in, or can be added to, several of them. Our doctors review the results with you.
A resting ECG records your heart's electrical activity for a few moments while you lie still. A treadmill (stress) ECG records it while you exercise, because some heart problems, such as narrowed coronary arteries, only show when the heart is working harder. Your doctor advises which ECG you need.
A resting ECG needs no fasting: according to the National Heart Centre Singapore, there is no restriction on food, drink or medicines, but avoid lotion, oil or powder on your chest. For a treadmill ECG, bring exercise clothes and suitable shoes, and have only a light meal beforehand. Tell us about your medicines, such as beta-blockers, and follow your doctor's advice about them.
A resting ECG is not usually painful. Sticky electrodes are placed on your chest, arms and legs, and you lie still for a few minutes; they may pull slightly when removed. A treadmill ECG involves exercise that gets harder in stages. You are monitored throughout and can stop if you feel unwell.
A resting ECG takes only a few minutes, including attaching the stickers. A treadmill ECG takes longer, as it includes preparation, the exercise stage and a recovery period while you are monitored. If the ECG is part of a health screening, set aside around 2 to 4 hours for the whole visit.
An ECG shows your heart's rate and rhythm and the pattern of its electrical signals. It can reveal an irregular heart rhythm, a very fast or slow heart rate, signs of a previous heart attack and patterns that suggest strain or thickening of the heart muscle. A treadmill ECG can show changes during exercise that suggest reduced blood flow to the heart. A normal ECG does not rule out all heart disease.
A resting ECG often cannot, because narrowed arteries may cause no changes at rest. A treadmill ECG is more likely to show changes when the heart works harder, but it can still miss some blockages or give false alarms. If there is concern, your doctor may suggest further tests, such as a stress echocardiogram, or a referral to a cardiologist.
A resting ECG may be normal if your palpitations are not happening at the time of the recording. A longer recording over a day or more, such as a Holter monitor, can capture rhythm problems that come and go, and your doctor can refer you for one. Speak to your doctor about your symptoms, and seek urgent care for chest pain or fainting.
Doctor-led care
Appointments
Book a screening consultation and our doctors will advise whether a resting or treadmill ECG suits you.
