What is an Echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram—often simply called an “echo”—is a safe and entirely painless test that uses high-frequency sound waves to capture real-time, moving pictures of your heart. It works just like the ultrasound scans used during pregnancy, meaning there is absolutely no radiation involved.
This test allows our medical team to look inside your heart while it beats, providing an excellent look at your heart’s overall health and structure.
- Echocardiogram: Sound wave visualization
- Cardiac Gating: Synchronizing images with your heart rate using simple skin sensors
- Accurate Diagnosis: Identifying structural heart conditions reliably
- Functional Assessment: Evaluating pumping action and heart valve performance
Why Do I Need an Echocardiogram?
Your doctor may order an echo to get a clear picture of your cardiovascular health, specifically to:
- Check Pumping Strength: Measure how effectively your heart muscle is pumping blood throughout your body.
- Evaluate Heart Valves: See if your heart valves are opening wide enough and closing tightly to prevent blood from leaking backward.
- Inspect Heart Structure: Check the size of your heart's chambers and the thickness of its walls.
- Investigate Symptoms: Find the underlying cause of unexplained shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or a heart murmur.
