To protect your heart, your doctor may order tests to see how well it’s working. Heart imaging tests take pictures of your heart, arteries or blood vessels to help identify any problems.

With so many options available, it’s easy to feel confused, especially when tests like EKGs, echocardiograms and MRIs sound similar. Each test has a specific purpose and gives your care team different information about your heart’s function and structure.

Learn what each test does to help you feel more confident about your care and the next steps in managing your heart health.

EKG: A Look at Your Heart’s Electrical Signals

An electrocardiogram (also called an EKG or ECG) is a quick, painless test that records your heart's electrical activity. It shows how fast your heart beats, whether your rhythm is regular or irregular and how signals move through the heart.

Doctors may order an EKG during a routine checkup, before surgery or if you have symptoms like chest pain or dizziness. It helps detect heart disease and monitor ongoing conditions.

During the test, small electrodes are placed on your chest, arms and legs to record your heart's activity. The test takes about 5 to 10 minutes and is entirely safe. No electricity enters your body, so there is no shock. Sometimes, you may wear a portable monitor for 24 hours to capture irregular rhythms.

Echocardiography: A Real-Time Look at Your Heart

An echocardiography, or “echo,” is a painless test that uses sound waves to create moving images of your heart. It shows your heart’s size, shape and how well it pumps blood. A Doppler echo also shows how blood flows through the heart.

Doctors use an echo to detect issues like blood clots, fluid buildup, valve problems or aortic conditions. It can also help explain abnormal heart sounds.

The most common type is transthoracic echocardiography, in which a device is moved across your chest to capture images. You'll lie on an exam table and electrodes may be placed on your chest. The test usually takes less than an hour. Echo is safe, requires little preparation and helps guide heart care decisions.

Cardiac MRI: The Most Detailed View

A cardiac MRI is a painless, noninvasive test that uses magnets, radio waves and a computer to create highly detailed images of your heart without radiation. It helps doctors diagnose heart conditions, assess damage from a heart attack, check for inflammation or scarring and evaluate valve or blood vessel problems.

During the test, you'll lie on a table that slides into a tunnel-like machine. You may receive contrast dye through a vein to help highlight your heart and blood vessels. The machine makes loud tapping or buzzing sounds and you may be asked to hold your breath briefly. Cardiac MRI is beneficial when other tests, like an echocardiography, don't provide precise results.

In Conclusion

Heart tests like EKGs, echo and MRIs help detect problems early, assess risk and guide treatment decisions. These heart tests give doctors a clear view of the heart’s rhythm, structure and function even in people who appear healthy. If you have symptoms of an undiagnosed heart condition or want to stay on top of your heart health, your doctor can help you find the right test based on your needs and prevent serious complications before they start.