Echocardiography (ECHO)

An echo test is a procedure in which the images are taken from the inside of your heart through sound waves. The healthcare providers can get an insight into your heartbeat and its pumping abilities with it. It can also serve as a diagnostic tool for various heart diseases.

There are various types of echocardiograms. Your healthcare providers will order the one most suitable for you. Each procedure has its own risks and benefits.

You will have to undergo an echocardiogram if you have heart disease. Your healthcare provider will decide if you need it or not. If you have heart disease, you should visit the healthcare provider often.

Why Is An Echo Test Done?

Your healthcare provider would suggest an Echo test for the following reasons:

• To check your heart or valves for any problem
• To check if shortness of breath or any other symptoms are occurring due to heart diseases
• A fetal echocardiogram is done to check on the baby’s heart health and if they have any congenital heart defect

Echo Test Procedure

Generally, in an echo test, the sonographer puts a transducer device on your chest that produces images of your heart on the computer. You will be able to hear the whooshing sounds of your heart during the procedure.

Types Of Echocardiograms

The various types of echocardiograms are:

• Transthoracic echocardiogram
• Transespophegeal echocardiogram
• Doppler echocardiogram
• Stress echocardiogram

Your healthcare provider will decide the type of echocardiogram you require depending on what they want to know concerning your health condition.

What Are The Risks Associated With An Echo Test?

Echocardiograms are generally safe and do not have any risks associated with them. However, you might have discomfort when the sonographer places the transducer firmly on your chest. They do that to produce the best quality images of your heart. To get relief from it, you can apply a pain reliever gel to your chest area. Or an over-the-counter pain reliever shall also help. However, if the discomfort is too severe and you have a complaint of chest pain, you must seek professional help.

In a transesophageal echocardiogram, your healthcare providers numb your throat to insert the device. It can cause discomfort for some hours when your throat is numb because you can not eat anything or have sensations. During that time, you must also avoid eating or drinking something as you may choke it because you do not have any sensations. During the procedure, you will be seated too. Therefore your oxygen levels will also be checked during and after the procedure. You will have to spend some time in the hospital after the procedure as well.

In the stress echocardiogram, you are asked to run on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike. Stress or medication can cause discomfort or changes in heart rhythm. If you have any such complaints, you should inform your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

What Do The Results Of An Echo Test Tell Us?

Through an echocardiogram, your healthcare providers will be able to know about the following information.

• Size of the heart:Hypertension, long-lasting heart failure, long-time uncontrolled hypertension, and valvular heart disease can cause your heart to enlarge and thicken. Therefore an echocardiogram can help to know about it.
• Pumping strength:In an echocardiogram, the pumping ability of your heart can be known. It tells about the ejection fraction- the amount of blood the ventricles pump with each heartbeat. With it, the healthcare providers also get to know about the cardiac output, the volume of blood your heart pumps in one minute.
• Damage to the heart muscle:An echocardiogram tells whether all the parts of your heart are getting blood efficiently or not.
• Valve problems:The echocardiogram also tells if your heart valves are leaky.
• Heart defects: With an echocardiogram, the healthcare providers can get an insight into heart defects such as problems with the heart chambers, complex heart diseases, and abnormal connections between the heart and the blood vessels.