What is it?

An echocardiogram, or echo, is a diagnostic study that checks for abnormalities in and around your heart. Harmless ultrasound waves are sent towards your heart through your chest wall to capture dynamic images that are then reflected back on the screen of the machine. These images will show your cardiologist the size, shape, thickness, and movement of your heart and its surrounding walls. Additionally, this test will show how strong your heart is pumping, whether the valves are functioning like they should be, and if there are any signs of regurgitation, or blood leaking backwards through your heart valves.

Why we do it?

Your doctor may recommend an echo if you begin to exhibit signs or symptoms of heart problems, such as shortness of breath, high blood pressure, or heart murmurs.

Shortness of breath and swelling in your legs are symptoms
associated with possible heart failure, a condition in which your body cannot pump oxygen and nutrient rich blood to the rest of the body. An echocardiogram gives you a frame by frame image of just how well your heart is pumping blood.

Heart murmurs, or additional and unusual sounds heard during the heartbeat, are another symptom that can be better evaluated with an echo. Some murmurs are indicative of further heart conditions, while others are completely harmless.

Your doctor may also suggest an echo to learn about:

• The size of your heart. High blood pressure, heart failure, or leaky heart valves could often result in an enlarged heart. Fluctuations in the thickness of your ventricles, the lower chambers of your heart, can also be detected and may be a result of heart valve disease, high blood pressure, or congenital heart defects.

• Weak heart muscles. Patients who have experience heart attacks in the past are often left with a weaker, more vulnerable heart. When an area of your heart becomes weaker, it is often an indication that it is not getting enough blood supply. This could be a sign of coronary heart disease. An echo can indicate which parts of your heart are weaker and not pumping properly.

• Heart valve problems. An echo can show how well your valves are functioning – whether they are opening and closing normally and tightly, and which way the blood is flowing through them.

• Your heart’s structure. An echo can also detect congenital heart defects, or structural problems presented at birth. This can include defects such as holes in your heart or problems with its walls, valves, or ventricles.

How should you prepare?

No special preparations are needed, but you should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.

How long does the test last?

The test lasts for approximately 30 minutes.