Doctor explains Echocardiogram Heart Test | Everything you need to know
In this educational video Dr O'Donovan explains key things you need to know about an echocardiogram test which is used to assess your heart.
What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram, or "echo", is a scan used to look at the heart and nearby blood vessels.
It's a type of ultrasound scan, which means a small probe is used to send out high-frequency sound waves that create echoes when they bounce off different parts of the body.
These echoes are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image on a monitor while the scan is carried out.
An echocardiogram may be requested by a heart specialist (cardiologist) or any doctor who thinks you might have a problem with your heart, including your GP.
How is the test carried out?
The test will usually be carried out at a hospital or clinic by a cardiologist, cardiac physiologist, or a trained technician called a sonographer.
What is the difference between an ECHO and EKG/ECG?
Although it has a similar name, an echocardiogram is not the same as an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is a test used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity.
When is an echocardiogram used?
An echocardiogram can help diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions by checking the structure of the heart and surrounding blood vessels, analysing how blood flows through them, and assessing the pumping chambers of the heart.
An echocardiogram can help detect:
- damage from a heart attack – where the supply of blood to the heart was suddenly blocked
- heart failure – where the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure
- congenital heart disease – birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart
- problems with the heart valves – problems affecting the valves that control the flow of blood within the heart
- cardiomyopathy – where the heart walls become thickened or enlarged
-endocarditis – an infection in the lining of the heart which damages the heart valves
An echocardiogram can also help your doctors decide on the best treatment for these conditions.
Types of Echo include:
Transthoracic echocardiogram
Transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) – where a small probe is passed down the throat into your food pipe (oesophagus) and sometimes into your stomach (your throat will be numbed with local anaesthetic spray and you'll be given a sedative to help you relax); you may need to avoid eating for several hours before this test.
Stress echocardiogram
The type of echocardiogram you will have depends on the heart condition being assessed and how detailed the images need to be.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
00:25 - What is an echo used for?
00:49- Types of echo
01:52 - How to prepare for an echo
02:25 - How long does an echocardiogram last?
02:58 - Side effects
Resources and references:
NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/echocar...
Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers...
If you are concerned about anything related to your health, see your own health provider.
#echo #echocardiogram #echocardiography #heart #cardiology
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