An echocardiogram or echocardiography is an ultrasound of the heart. It is medical imaging of your heart using a regular ultrasound or Doppler ultrasound. It is done by putting a handheld wand on the chest, which uses ultrasound to get pictures of the heart’s valves and chambers.
It helps the sonographer evaluate the pumping action of the heart. The results of this diagnosis are significant to analyze your heart’s situation. A standard echocardiogram result will show the typical working of the heart’s chambers and valves.
If your heart has no blocks, blood clots, or tumors, you can see the heart valves open and close as they usually should. It is imperative to get the test done from a good hospital; hence, always get an echocardiogram from the best cardiology hospital in Bangalore or the city you are in.
Why is an echocardiogram used on patients?
It is an excellent method to diagnose heart diseases and can be used for the following purposes:
- Analyze the overall function of the heart
- Identify the presence of different kinds of heart diseases, like myocardial disease, infective endocarditis, congenital heart disease, valve disease, pericardial disease, and cardiac masses
- Follow the progressive valve disease for a long time
- Evaluating the effectiveness of the surgical treatments
Procedure:
What happens during the day of the test?
- The test is quick and straightforward.
- The doctors will explain the procedure to you in detail and ask for your concerns or doubts.
- The procedure will take place in an Echo Lab. It is an area supervised by a physician.
- You will get a gown to wear. You must only wear the gown given to you.
- A cardiac sonographer will put three electrodes (flat patches) on your chest to monitor your heart’s activities. The electrodes are attached to an echocardiograph monitor that gives the heart’s current status during the test.
- You may be asked to change your lying positions many times during the exam so that the sonographer can take pictures from different angles. He’ll apply some gel to get a clear picture of your heart.
- You may be asked to hold your breath many times.
- You may or may not hear the sound of Doppler signals, and that’s normal in the procedure.
The test will not take much time, and as soon as the procedure is over, you can change and wait for your physician to call you.
Preparation:
What can you do during the day of the test?
There are no hard and fast rules to follow during the day of the echocardiogram test. Here are some common questions people have about the test.
- Can I drink/eat on the day of the test?
Yes, there’s no problem eating or drinking on the day of the test. Eat as you would do on a typical day. Breakfast, lunch, or whatever your routine is.
- Are there any restrictions for taking my usual medication?
Take your medications as usual; make sure your doctor prescribes them. Don’t take any other drug at the suggestion of non-experts.
- Is there any specific type of clothes I should wear during the test?
There’s no dress code for the test, and you can wear whatever you usually wear every day. You will be given a hospital gown before the test and a private locker to store your belongings.
Duration:
How long does the procedure take place?
If you ignore the time to travel to the hospital, change dresses, and wait for the results, the procedure doesn’t take much time. It is easy to find the best cardiology hospital in Bangalore just by Googling it. The closer the hospital is, the better.
The expert/professional will complete the test in 40 minutes, you can change afterward and go home immediately. You don’t need any rest or anything after the test. You will get the results after the cardiologist reviews them. Your physician will access the result and will call you to discuss it.