What is an echocardiogram and what can it detect?

An echocardiogram, often simply referred to as an "echo," is a non-invasive test that uses ultrasound waves to create a live, moving image of your heart. It's a valuable diagnostic tool that allows healthcare professionals to evaluate the structure and function of the heart. Here's what an echocardiogram can detect: 1. Size and Shape: It can measure the dimensions of the various parts of the heart, including the heart chambers and the walls of these chambers. 2. Heart Valves: It assesses the function of the heart valves, looking for any signs of stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leaking). 3. Blood Flow: Using Doppler ultrasound, an echo can show how blood moves through the heart and valves, which can help identify any abnormalities in blood flow. 4. Heart Wall Movement: It can detect any irregularities in the movement of the heart walls, which could indicate conditions like cardiomyopathy. 5. Heart Muscle: It can evaluate the thickness and motion of the heart muscle, which can be affected by various heart diseases. 6. Congenital Heart Defects: It is used to diagnose and monitor congenital heart defects in infants and children. An echocardiogram is particularly useful for diagnosing a wide range of heart conditions, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart valve problems, and more.

Echocardiography (echo) shows the size, structure, and movement of various parts of your heart. These parts include the heart valves, the septum (the wall separating the right and left heart chambers), and the walls of the heart chambers. Doppler ultrasound shows the movement of blood through your heart.