How Echocardiography Works: A Guide For Patients
Echocardiography is a non-invasive, painless test that uses sound waves to create moving heart pictures. Echocardiography can detect problems with the structure and function of your heart and help diagnose many conditions such as coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure (CHF), valvular disease, arrhythmias, congenital disabilities, and more. Echocardiogram images are recorded on memorable films or computer screens for interpretation by a cardiologist.
What should I know about this?
Echocardiography is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
The test is usually performed by a cardiologist, sonographer, or radiologist. The patient lies on their back on an examination table, and a small amount of gel is applied to the chest. A transducer (a wand-like device) is placed against the skin and passed over the chest. This transmits sound waves that create images of the heart displayed on a monitor. Echocardiography can be used to examine all areas of the heart, including the left ventricle, right ventricle, atria, valves, septa, and blood vessels.
We hope this information has been helpful to you.
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