> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sonohealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Capture an Accurate EKG Reading at Home

> Step-by-step tips for getting a clean, reliable recording on a personal EKG, common causes of noisy traces, and how to make recordings useful for your doctor.

A personal EKG is only as helpful as the recording you capture. A few simple habits make the difference between a clean, readable trace and a noisy one your doctor can't use.

<Note>
  A personal EKG like the SonoHealth [EKGraph](/ekg/overview) screens heart rhythm and is not a diagnosis. Bring recordings to your doctor, and seek emergency care for chest pain, fainting, or severe breathlessness.
</Note>

## Set up for a clean signal

* **Sit still and relaxed.** Movement and muscle tension are the biggest causes of a noisy trace. Rest your arms on a table or your lap.
* **Be comfortable, not cold.** Shivering adds interference; warm up first if needed.
* **Ensure good skin contact.** Dry or lotioned skin weakens the signal — clean, slightly moist fingertips help.
* **Stay quiet.** Don't talk during the recording.

## Follow the device's grip

Most single-lead devices require contact with both hands (and sometimes another body location) to complete the circuit. Hold the device as instructed with steady, even contact for the full recording — usually around 30 seconds — without gripping too hard.

## Record at the right moment

The most valuable recording is one taken **while you feel symptoms**, such as a palpitation or flutter. Keep the device handy so you can capture an episode in the moment — this is what makes a personal EKG more useful than a routine office visit for [intermittent symptoms](/ekg/heart-palpitations).

## Why is my trace noisy or wavy?

Common culprits are movement, talking, cold hands, poor skin contact, or being near electrical interference. Re-record sitting still with good contact. If readings are consistently unreadable, check the device setup before assuming a hardware problem.

## Make it useful for your doctor

Save or [export each recording](/ekg/overview) and note what you were doing and feeling at the time. A trace plus context — "fluttering after coffee, lasted two minutes" — helps your doctor far more than a number alone. Compare a single-lead trace's limits in our [single-lead vs 12-lead guide](/ekg/single-lead-vs-12-lead).

***

**Related:** [Home EKG Overview](/ekg/overview) · [Heart Palpitations](/ekg/heart-palpitations) · [Single-Lead vs 12-Lead](/ekg/single-lead-vs-12-lead) · [When to See a Doctor](/ekg/when-to-see-a-doctor-heart)