An EKG, also called an electrocardiogram, is a simple and relatively inexpensive test to look at the electrical output of the heart. As the heart beats, it sends out electrical impulses and this impulse is measured and from this we get the heart rate, which can be a sign of your conditioning and/or medical problems like atrial fibrillation, ectopic beats, etc. We also learn from the EKG about any ongoing strain pattern, enlargement of the heart and/or evidence of old heart attack. So, for all these reasons, it’s reasonable to do an EKG periodically to assess response to medicines, to make sure that the hypertensive changes are not occurring in the heart, to make sure a person has not had an intervening heart attack between their visits, etc. This is a safe and inexpensive way to interrogate the heart.