An echocardiogram is a heart study that allows for real-time imaging of the heart. It is a fundamental tool for analyzing the structure and function of this organ.
What Is an Echocardiogram?
The echocardiogram is a highly useful test for diagnosing various heart-related diseases, as it enables the visualization of cardiac anatomy, including heart chambers, valve movement, and any abnormalities.
It also helps assess how well the heart functions and reveals whether the chambers move properly or if the valves open and close correctly.
Some of the conditions that an echocardiogram can help detect include:
- Blood clots in the heart chambers
- Valve function problems
- Presence of fluid in the sac surrounding the heart
- Aortic abnormalities
- Abnormal pressures in the heart
- Pumping or relaxation issues
What Is an Echocardiogram Used For?
The echocardiogram is primarily used to evaluate the heart’s structure and function in real time. Different types of echocardiograms can be used, depending on the clinical need and level of detail required, tailored to each specific situation:
- Transthoracic echocardiography: The most common type, performed from the chest over the heart area.
- Stress echocardiography: A conventional transthoracic echocardiogram performed before and after physical exercise or administration of a specific medication.
- Fetal echocardiography: Performed between the 18th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy to detect congenital heart defects in the baby.
- Transesophageal echocardiography: Typically used when better visualization of the back side of the heart is needed, or when a transthoracic echocardiogram does not provide sufficient information.
- Three-dimensional echocardiography: Also known as 3D echocardiography, it allows the creation of three-dimensional images of the heart.
Electrocardiogram vs. Echocardiogram
People often confuse electrocardiograms and echocardiograms, especially those unfamiliar with the field of cardiology. Both are heart tests and help evaluate its function, but they differ in method and focus.
An echocardiogram is an imaging test that uses ultrasound waves to produce real-time images of the heart and its structures.
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), on the other hand, measures the heart’s electrical activity through electrodes placed on the skin. This test records heart rate and rhythm, helping detect problems such as arrhythmias or heart attacks—but it does not provide images; instead, it generates graphical representations of the heart’s electrical signals over time.
At the ABC Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Diagnosis Department, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
Fuentes:
Sanitas, MedlinePlus, Elsevier
